Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and The Dalles, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and The Dalles, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,662 in The Dalles, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,576 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,880 in The Dalles, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,143 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,097 in The Dalles, OR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than The Dalles, OR, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chicago, IL and The Dalles, OR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, The Dalles, OR by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$26.99 $26.99

-24.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$71.2 $71.2

41.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.80 $11.80

2.03%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$6.11 $6.11

-5.73%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$3.37 $3.37

-11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.73 $2.73

-12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.80 $6.80

5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.06 $6.06

32.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.39 $3.39

21.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.22 $4.22

25.36%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.95 $2.95

54.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$17.46 $17.46

-17.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$10.36 $10.36

42.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$10.84 $10.84

80.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.69 $6.69

-18.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.59 $1.59

7.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.19 $4.19

-0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.32 $4.32

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.02 $3.02

-17.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.77 $2.77

-1.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.55 $2.55

-3.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.98 $1.98

37.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$12.31 $12.31

20.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$14.98 $14.98

2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.97 $1.97

19.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.74 $4.74

-21.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$45.26 $45.26

63.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.88 $4.88

-31.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.27 $1.27

7.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$52.9 $52.9

-53.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.13 $1.13

-7.08%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.5K $35.5K

-8.88%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.56%

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

$186 $186

$124 $124

49.78%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$60.8 $60.8

2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$70.5 $70.5

-4.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.20 $43.20

74.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$10.84 $10.84

39.30%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$998 $998

102.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.8K $23.8K

67.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$40.64 $40.64

58.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.86 $34.86

46.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$60.0 $60.0

60.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$81.1 $81.1

81.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,572 $1,572

48.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,359 $1,359

15.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$2,645 $2,645

76.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$2,260 $2,260

24.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$2,901 $2,901

40.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,268 $2,268

16.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.66

-0.90%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for The Dalles, OR: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,572 in The Dalles, OR. 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $71.0 in The Dalles, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $388 – making The Dalles, OR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 The Dalles, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,662 in The Dalles, OR – roughly 13% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,994 in The Dalles, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL and $71.0 in The Dalles, OR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,662 in The Dalles, OR. 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 $2,662 in The Dalles, OR to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with The Dalles, OR. 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.