Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Upper Marlboro, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Upper Marlboro, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,854 in Upper Marlboro, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,151 in Upper Marlboro, MD, rent included.

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

Both Chicago, IL and Upper Marlboro, MD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Upper Marlboro, MD by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.99 $19.99

4.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$78.6 $78.6

25.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.91 $11.91

-0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.75 $5.75

1.57%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.75 $2.75

11.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.34 $2.34

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.93 $5.93

15.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.81 $7.81

3.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.99 $0.99

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.49 $4.49

-11.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.99 $5.99

-6.51%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.96 $4.96

-8.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$17.92 $17.92

-20.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.39 $10.39

43.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$16.53 $16.53

15.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.06 $5.06

4.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 $1.77

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.24 $5.24

-19.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.67 $6.67

-34.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.45 $3.45

-25.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.26 $2.26

9.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.45 $2.45

10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.80 $10.80

38.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.10 $14.10

4.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.66 $2.66

-10.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.64 $4.64

-23.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.96 $1.96

24.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.02 $4.02

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.40 $1.40

-2.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.96 $29.96

-15.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.96 $0.96

13.54%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.0K $29.0K

11.38%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.18%

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

$188 $188

$206 $206

-8.47%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$63.6 $63.6

-0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$73.8 $73.8

-10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.09 $43.09

75.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.22 $15.22

-2.76%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,767 $1,767

18.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.6K $23.6K

62.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$54.2 $54.2

19.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$50.1 $50.1

3.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$96.7 $96.7

-0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$142 $142

2.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,425 $1,425

63.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,181 $1,181

33.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,601 $2,601

83.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,206 $2,206

23.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,411 $2,411

66.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,643 $2,643

1.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$7,931 $7,931

-37.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.48

1.85%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,425 in Upper Marlboro, MD. 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 59% higher in Upper Marlboro, MD, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $79.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Groceries tell a different story – $445 in Chicago, IL vs $449 in Upper Marlboro, 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 Upper Marlboro, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, 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 $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,836 in Upper Marlboro, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Upper Marlboro, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $79.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Upper Marlboro, MD, where all-in costs run around $2,557, than in Chicago, IL at $3,084. In Upper Marlboro, MD it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, MD to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Upper Marlboro, 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.