Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Troy, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Troy, NY

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.4% more expensive than Troy, NY without rent, and 37.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 22.8% more expensive than Troy, NY without rent, and 32.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.88 $18.88
10.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$72.4 $72.4
38.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.95 $11.95
0.17%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.86 $5.86
-5.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.16 $2.16
43.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.75 $1.75
38.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.03 $6.03
13.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.07 $6.07
39.21%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.05 $1.05
-0.95%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.33 $3.33
24.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.71 $5.71
-3.33%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.8 $3.8
22.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.28 $14.28
0.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.5 $13.5
10.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.67 $17.67
9.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.89 $3.89
32.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.41 $1.41
21.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.89 $3.89
13.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.06 $4.06
11.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.93 $2.93
-13.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.47 $2.47
10.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.94 $1.94
25.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.65 $1.65
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.12 $13.12
15.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.09 $12.09
35.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.36 $3.36
10.12%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.32 $1.32
91.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$64.8 $64.8
14.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.98 $2.98
12.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.19 $27.19
-6.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.51%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$194 $194
-3.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.6 $52.6
21.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.4 $65.4
-0.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$44.28 $44.28
73.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.1 $15.1
-1.13%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,411 $1,411
46.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$28.5K $28.5K
37.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.75 $46.75
37.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$33.73 $33.73
55.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$83.8 $83.8
13.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$104 $104
39.47%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,181 $1,181
101.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$917 $917
72.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,962 $2,962
60.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,814 $1,814
55.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,808 $2,808
27.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,425 $2,425
2.70%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Troy, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,878 $5,878
-10.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Troy, NY: October 29, 2025

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