Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tempe, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tempe, AZ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.7% more expensive than Tempe, AZ without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.6% more expensive than Tempe, AZ without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.12 $19.12
8.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.2 $81.2
23.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.93 $11.93
0.34%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.43 $5.43
2.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.77 $2.77
12.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.33 $2.33
3.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.91 $5.91
16.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.19 $7.19
17.52%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.9 $0.9
15.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.28 $4.28
-3.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.28 $5.28
4.55%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.91 $4.91
-5.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.11 $11.11
28.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.63 $11.63
27.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.77 $14.77
30.94%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.95 $4.95
4.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.44 $1.44
18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.96 $3.96
11.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.86 $4.86
-7.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.38 $2.38
6.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.6 $2.6
5.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.94 $1.94
25.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.39 $2.39
12.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.28 $10.28
47.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.22 $15.22
7.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.17 $2.17
8.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.36 $3.36
10.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.06 $2.06
22.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$60.3 $60.3
23.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.69 $2.69
24.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.34 $1.34
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$36.25 $36.25
-29.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.4K $31.4K
3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.5K $26.5K
-1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$258 $258
-27.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$68.9 $68.9
-7.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$82.6 $82.6
-21.06%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$30.31 $30.31
153.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$14.96 $14.96
-12.90%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.92 $12.92
15.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,098 $1,098
87.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.4K $15.4K
154.67%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56 $56
14.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.49 $40.49
29.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.9 $86.9
9.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$103 $103
39.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,937 $1,937
22.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,761 $1,761
-10.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,425 $2,425
96.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,892 $1,892
48.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,450 $2,450
46.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,078 $2,078
19.85%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Tempe, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,005 $4,005
31.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Tempe, AZ: October 27, 2025

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