Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and University Place, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and University Place, WA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.2% more expensive than University Place, WA without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.3% cheaper than University Place, WA without rent, and 18% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.74 $16.74
24.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$117 $117
-14.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.63 $12.63
-5.23%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.88 $5.88
-5.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.97 $2.97
4.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.37 $2.37
2.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.96 $8.96
-23.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$12.01 $12.01
-29.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.09 $1.09
-4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.23 $4.23
-1.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.76 $2.76
100.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.9 $4.9
-5.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.34 $11.34
26.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.39 $16.39
-9.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.88 $18.88
2.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.27 $5.27
-1.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.92 $4.92
-10.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.72 $3.72
21.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.24 $3.24
-21.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.84 $2.84
-3.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.93 $1.93
25.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.98 $2.98
-9.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.15 $11.15
36.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.68 $17.68
-7.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.47 $3.47
6.63%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.58 $2.58
29.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.96 $1.96
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.53 $29.53
-13.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.19 $1.19
-9.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30K $30K
8.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.28%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$155 $155
21.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.7 $52.7
20.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$88.5 $88.5
-26.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.69 $42.69
79.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$18.13 $18.13
-17.65%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,105 $2,105
-2.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29.5K $29.5K
32.68%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$58.7 $58.7
9.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37.41 $37.41
40.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.9 $98.9
-3.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$112 $112
29.55%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,597 $1,597
48.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,369 $1,369
15.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,623 $2,623
81.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,224 $2,224
26.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,536 $2,536
41.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,086 $2,086
19.37%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
University Place, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,883 $7,883
-33.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 University Place, WA: October 28, 2025

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