Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Warwick, RI

For one person, living is cheaper in Warwick, RI: $2,746 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

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

Cost of Living Index in Warwick, RI
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Warwick, RI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Warwick, RI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,746

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Warwick, RI

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 Warwick, RI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,746 in Warwick, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Warwick, RI $2,746

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,048 in Warwick, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Warwick, RI $4,048

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,350 in Warwick, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Warwick, RI $5,350

Chicago, IL costs about 14% more than Warwick, RI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Warwick, RI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Warwick, RI by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$20.57 $20.57

0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$95.3 $95.3

-5.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.04 $12.04

7.48%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.94 $3.94

42.13%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.81 $2.81

-6.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.54 $1.54

47.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.06 $5.06

37.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.70 $7.70

14.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.30 $1.30

-2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.28 $4.28

-11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.16 $4.16

27.40%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.17 $4.17

14.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$11.41 $11.41

22.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$12.98 $12.98

12.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.00 $17.00

10.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$6.52 $6.52

-20.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.71 $1.71

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.75 $4.75

-17.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.42 $4.42

12.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.59 $1.59

73.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.61 $2.61

5.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.17 $1.17

89.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.11 $3.11

-4.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$13.82 $13.82

1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.31 $13.31

14.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.71 $1.71

50.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$1.96 $1.96

78.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$69.8 $69.8

7.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.01 $6.01

-44.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.79 $1.79

-20.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$31.87 $31.87

-23.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.08 $1.08

16.67%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

27.02%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.04%

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

$193 $193

$325 $325

-40.64%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$74.5 $74.5

-8.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$76.8 $76.8

-20.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$44.12 $44.12

22.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$13.12 $13.12

35.21%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$815 $815

102.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$30.4K $30.4K

2.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$55.6 $55.6

18.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$37.34 $37.34

37.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$51.8 $51.8

93.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$98.9 $98.9

42.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,580 $1,580

54.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,277 $1,277

31.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,469 $2,469

91.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,173 $2,173

28.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$4,550 $4,550

-9.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,341 $2,341

13.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,601 $5,601

-13.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.56

3.81%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Warwick, RI: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Warwick, RI

$1.3K 46.5% 23.9% $400

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Warwick, RI

$414 15.1% 7.8% $35

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Warwick, RI

$306 11.1% 10.9% $37

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Warwick, RI

$476 17.3% 47.7% $154

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Warwick, RI

$110 4% 32% $52

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Warwick, RI

$93 3.4% 2.4% $2.3

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Warwick, RI

$70 2.6% 21.5% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,580 in Warwick, RI. 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 15% higher in Warwick, RI, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $95.0 in Warwick, RI. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $414 in Warwick, RI – so Warwick, RI wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Warwick, RI

🕒 Local time

05:19 5:19 AM

06:19 6:19 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

85,925

💱 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 Warwick, RI 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Warwick, RI

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 Warwick, RI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,746 in Warwick, RI – roughly 14% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,120 in Warwick, RI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Warwick, RI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $95.0 in Warwick, RI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,746 in Warwick, RI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,746 in Warwick, RI to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Warwick, RI. 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.