Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Valdez, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Valdez, AK: $2,832 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
134

Cost of Living Index in Valdez, AK
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Valdez, AK Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Valdez, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$2,832

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Valdez, AK

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 Valdez, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,832 in Valdez, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Valdez, AK $2,832

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,984 in Valdez, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Valdez, AK $3,984

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,136 in Valdez, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Valdez, AK $5,136

Chicago, IL costs about 7% more than Valdez, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Valdez, AK sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Valdez, AK by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$23.31 $23.31

-11.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$100 $100

-10.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$20.23 $20.23

-34.80%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.24 $4.24

33.49%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.45 $2.45

7.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.30 $2.30

-0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.11 $7.11

-3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.91 $8.91

-0.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.04 $1.04

20.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.51 $3.51

5.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.34 $4.34

24.19%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.04 $4.04

17.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.69 $12.69

9.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.63 $11.63

23.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.11 $17.11

7.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.92 $4.92

6.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.66 $1.66

19.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.41 $4.41

-7.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.72 $4.72

5.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.75 $2.75

-2.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.08 $3.08

-13.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.21 $2.21

1.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.27 $2.27

37.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.32 $10.32

33.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.91 $14.91

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.21 $2.21

14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.27 $3.27

7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.91 $1.91

27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$65.2 $65.2

12.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.83 $2.83

12.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.83 $1.83

-24.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$33.54 $33.54

-25.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.27 $1.27

-5.51%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.3K $29.3K

19.74%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

-10.21%

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

$194 $194

$305 $305

-36.23%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.6 $58.6

18.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$97.0 $97.0

-36.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$39.40 $39.40

21.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.11 $14.11

26.22%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,382 $1,382

29.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$22.8K $22.8K

40.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$46.44 $46.44

44.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$46.54 $46.54

12.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$79.9 $79.9

27.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$122 $122

17.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,631 $1,631

54.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,315 $1,315

19.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,665 $2,665

77.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,853 $1,853

45.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,457 $2,457

70.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,292 $2,292

20.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$7,491 $7,491

-34.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Valdez, AK: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Valdez, AK

$1.3K 46.5% 16.6% $263

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Valdez, AK

$400 14.1% 10.5% $47

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Valdez, AK

$370 13.1% 7.4% $26

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Valdez, AK

$460 16.3% 41.5% $135

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Valdez, AK

$133 4.7% 19% $31

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Valdez, AK

$85 3% 9.2% $8.6

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Valdez, AK

$68 2.4% 19% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,631 in Valdez, AK. 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 52% higher in Valdez, AK, 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 $100 in Valdez, AK. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $400 in Valdez, AK – so Valdez, AK wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Valdez, AK

🕒 Local time

15:38 3:38 PM

12:38 12:38 PM

3 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

4,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Valdez, AK 4,400 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Valdez, AK

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Valdez, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,832 in Valdez, AK – Valdez, AK comes out roughly 7% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,248 in Valdez, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valdez, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,631 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Valdez, AK. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,832 in Valdez, AK. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Valdez, AK – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.