Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in University Place, WA: $2,876 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
137

Cost of Living Index in University Place, WA
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University Place, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

University Place, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,876

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in University Place, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in University Place, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,876 in University Place, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
University Place, WA $2,876

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,279 in University Place, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
University Place, WA $4,279

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,682 in University Place, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
University Place, WA $5,682

Chicago, IL costs about 7% more than University Place, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and University Place, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, University Place, WA by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$23.38 $23.38

-12.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$101 $101

-12.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.15 $12.15

5.76%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$6.08 $6.08

-4.93%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.12 $3.12

-12.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.14 $3.14

-28.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.93 $7.93

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.86 $7.86

17.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.10 $1.10

14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.05 $4.05

-12.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.95 $5.95

-9.58%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.97 $4.97

-8.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$16.11 $16.11

-15.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$18.19 $18.19

-22.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$23.33 $23.33

-22.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.91 $5.91

-12.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.77 $1.77

11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$5.55 $5.55

-30.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.48 $4.48

7.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.48 $3.48

-19.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.82 $2.82

-5.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.96 $1.96

5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.06 $3.06

-0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.43 $12.43

11.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$18.17 $18.17

-17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.75 $1.75

50.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$4.95 $4.95

-30.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.13 $2.13

14.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$65.8 $65.8

14.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.66 $2.66

19.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$30.49 $30.49

-18.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.45 $1.45

-11.72%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.9K $27.9K

28.26%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.5K $26.5K

1.19%

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

$192 $192

$233 $233

-17.59%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$68.7 $68.7

1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$88.6 $88.6

-29.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$39.56 $39.56

20.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$17.88 $17.88

-0.28%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$2,087 $2,087

-13.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$27.9K $27.9K

45.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$60.3 $60.3

9.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$44.90 $44.90

14.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$130 $130

-20.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$127 $127

11.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,573 $1,573

60.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,280 $1,280

26.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,599 $2,599

85.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,111 $2,111

29.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,918 $2,918

42.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,644 $2,644

2.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$8,149 $8,149

-39.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.64

2.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for University Place, WA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

University Place, WA

$1.3K 44.5% 21% $341

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

University Place, WA

$505 17.6% 14.9% $66

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

University Place, WA

$377 13.1% 9.5% $33

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

University Place, WA

$390 13.6% 20.5% $66

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

University Place, WA

$163 5.7% 0.3% $0.5

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

University Place, WA

$85 3% 11.7% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

University Place, WA

$75 2.6% 9.7% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,573 in University Place, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 66% higher in University Place, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in University Place, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $505 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 University Place, WA

🕒 Local time

16:53 4:53 PM

14:53 2:53 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

34,866

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.895 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL University Place, WA 2,800 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
University Place, WA

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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 University Place, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,876 in University Place, WA – University Place, WA comes out roughly 6% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,314 in University Place, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in University Place, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,573 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $101 in University Place, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,876 in University Place, WA to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.