Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Vancouver, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Vancouver, WA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.2% more expensive than Vancouver, WA without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.5% more expensive than Vancouver, WA without rent, and 23.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.13 $20.13
3.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.9 $79.9
25.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.01 $14.01
-14.56%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.35 $5.35
3.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.62 $2.62
18.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.82 $1.82
32.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.66 $6.66
3.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.93 $7.93
6.56%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.36 $4.36
-4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.36 $4.36
26.61%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.55 $3.55
30.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.34 $11.34
26.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.55 $11.55
28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.86 $16.86
14.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.16 $4.16
24.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.6 $1.6
6.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.71 $2.71
62.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.95 $2.95
52.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.23 $2.23
13.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.87 $1.87
46.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.98 $1.98
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.64 $1.64
64.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.47 $10.47
45.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.19 $11.19
46.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.14 $2.14
9.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.33 $3.33
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$98.7 $98.7
-24.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.58 $4.58
-27.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$0.79 $0.79
79.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.19 $24.19
5.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.13 $1.13
-4.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.1K $24.1K
34.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$143 $143
32.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.01 $47.01
35.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64 $64
1.84%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$37.93 $37.93
102.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$27.18 $27.18
-52.06%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.53 $14.53
2.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$907 $907
127.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$13.1K $13.1K
199.23%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$41.1 $41.1
56.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.53 $30.53
71.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.7 $88.7
7.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$83.7 $83.7
72.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,595 $1,595
49.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,478 $1,478
7.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,441 $2,441
95.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,152 $2,152
30.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,552 $3,552
1.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,402 $3,402
-26.80%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Vancouver, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,561 $4,561
15.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Vancouver, WA: October 29, 2025

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