Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Temple Hills, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Temple Hills, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,624 in Temple Hills, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,832 in Temple Hills, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,040 in Temple Hills, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Temple Hills, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Temple Hills, MD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Temple Hills, MD by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.91 $19.91

1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$81.3 $81.3

9.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$12.13 $12.13

8.49%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$4.51 $4.51

27.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.72 $2.72

-3.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.03 $2.03

15.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.52 $6.52

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.94 $8.94

2.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.11 $1.11

17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.54 $3.54

14.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$6.34 $6.34

-10.25%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.96 $5.96

-18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$8.80 $8.80

71.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.52 $15.52

-4.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$13.03 $13.03

47.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$7.66 $7.66

-25.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.97 $2.97

-35.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$7.43 $7.43

-44.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$8.14 $8.14

-37.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.75 $2.75

6.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.40 $3.40

-18.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.77 $2.77

-16.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.19 $3.19

-4.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$8.99 $8.99

77.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$18.21 $18.21

-17.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.71 $1.71

47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.66 $3.66

-4.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.86 $1.86

36.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.88 $3.88

-15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.06 $2.06

-33.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$25.19 $25.19

-10.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.98 $0.98

24.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

1.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$218 $218

-13.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.0 $69.0

$53.2 $53.2

29.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$66.1 $66.1

-3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$41.82 $41.82

51.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$15.25 $15.25

17.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,526 $1,526

$2,032 $2,032

-24.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$21.7K $21.7K

46.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$47.12 $47.12

31.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$48.84 $48.84

15.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$91.4 $91.4

10.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$79.4 $79.4

96.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,607 $1,607

45.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,289 $1,289

31.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,532 $2,532

80.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,144 $2,144

30.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,069 $3,069

34.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,342 $2,342

17.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.1

4.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Temple Hills, MD: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,607 in Temple Hills, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Temple Hills, MD. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $482 in Temple Hills, MD – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Temple Hills, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,624 in Temple Hills, MD – roughly 21% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,937 in Temple Hills, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Temple Hills, MD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Temple Hills, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,624 in Temple Hills, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,624 in Temple Hills, MD to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Temple Hills, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.