Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Walla Walla, WA: $2,444 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
117

Cost of Living Index in Walla Walla, WA
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Walla Walla, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Walla Walla, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,444

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,444 in Walla Walla, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Walla Walla, WA $2,444

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,618 in Walla Walla, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Walla Walla, WA $3,618

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,791 in Walla Walla, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Walla Walla, WA $4,791

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Walla Walla, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Walla Walla, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Walla Walla, WA by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.92 $19.92

2.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$68.5 $68.5

29.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.99 $10.99

16.92%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.21 $5.21

10.94%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.33 $2.33

17.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.96 $1.96

15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$4.04 $4.04

70.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$5.82 $5.82

58.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.94 $0.94

34.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.31 $3.31

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.18 $3.18

69.18%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.10 $4.10

10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$16.17 $16.17

-15.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$13.97 $13.97

0.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$16.31 $16.31

10.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.52 $4.52

14.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.69 $1.69

17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.15 $2.15

80.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.58 $3.58

34.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.15 $2.15

30.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.28 $2.28

17.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.48 $1.48

39.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.81 $1.81

67.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$8.55 $8.55

62.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.93 $11.93

26.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.87 $1.87

40.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$4.83 $4.83

-28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$0.48 $0.48

406.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$10.19 $10.19

638.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.98 $1.98

60.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.26 $1.26

34.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$39.70 $39.70

-37.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.16 $1.16

10.34%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.7K $27.7K

29.21%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$27.1K $27.1K

-1.18%

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

$192 $192

$225 $225

-14.64%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$74.4 $74.4

-6.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$67.8 $67.8

-8.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$42.90 $42.90

11.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$11.16 $11.16

59.77%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,355 $1,355

33.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$17.7K $17.7K

130.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$39.42 $39.42

67.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$34.36 $34.36

49.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$83.7 $83.7

23.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$81.9 $81.9

74.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,390 $1,390

82.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,200 $1,200

35.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,343 $2,343

106.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,098 $2,098

30.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,792 $2,792

49.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,718 $2,718

0.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$5,218 $5,218

-5.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.44

5.28%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Walla Walla, WA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Walla Walla, WA

$1.2K 49.1% 26% $421

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Walla Walla, WA

$380 15.5% 13.5% $59

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Walla Walla, WA

$304 12.4% 11.7% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Walla Walla, WA

$367 15% 13.4% $43

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Walla Walla, WA

$108 4.4% 34.2% $56

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Walla Walla, WA

$20 0.8% 78.9% $76

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Walla Walla, WA

$65 2.7% 21.8% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,390 in Walla Walla, 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 6% higher in Walla Walla, 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 $69 in Walla Walla, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $380 – making Walla Walla, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Walla Walla, WA

🕒 Local time

02:09 2:09 AM

00:09 12:09 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

34,060

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Walla Walla, WA 2,490 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Walla Walla, WA

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 Walla Walla, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,444 in Walla Walla, WA – Walla Walla, WA comes out roughly 20% 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 $3,666 in Walla Walla, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Walla Walla, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,390 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $69 in Walla Walla, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Walla Walla, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,444, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Walla Walla, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

For expats, Walla Walla, WA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 20% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.