Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Washington, DC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Washington, DC

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.9% cheaper than Washington, DC without rent, and 17.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.8% cheaper than Washington, DC without rent, and 23.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.62 $20.62

$27.39 $27.39

-24.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$118 $118

-14.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$12.15 $12.15

-3.05%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$6.03 $6.03

-4.15%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.14 $3.14

-5.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.8 $2.8

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.8 $6.8

$7.8 $7.8

-12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 $8.48

$10.12 $10.12

-16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.13 $1.13

-3.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$4.57 $4.57

-10.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$7.01 $7.01

-23.54%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.28 $4.28

6.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$17.76 $17.76

-19.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.2 $15.2

$15.39 $15.39

-1.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 $18.97

$19.62 $19.62

-3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$6.23 $6.23

-12.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.99 $1.99

-13.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.11 $5.11

-14.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$6.61 $6.61

-33.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.44 $3.44

-25.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.68 $3.68

-26.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.61 $2.61

-7.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.46 $2.46

10.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$12.58 $12.58

17.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.71 $16.71

$15.82 $15.82

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.84 $2.84

-13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.69 $4.69

-23.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.83 $2.83

-10.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

$74.6 $74.6

2.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.1 $4.1

-19.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.54 $2.54

-45.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$30.07 $30.07

-16.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.9 $0.9

16.67%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$30.5K $30.5K

3.28%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.27%

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

$182 $182

$206 $206

-11.38%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$60.3 $60.3

3.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$69.2 $69.2

-3.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$110 $110

-29.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.18 $13.18

$37.89 $37.89

-65.22%

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$16.67 $16.67

-10.14%

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

$2,022 $2,022

$2,716 $2,716

-25.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39K $39K

$40.3K $40.3K

-3.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$81 $81

-21.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$50.1 $50.1

4.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$102 $102

-5.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$142 $142

4.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$2,581 $2,581

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$2,071 $2,071

-21.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,642 $4,642

$5,925 $5,925

-21.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,214 $4,214

-33.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,708 $3,708

$6,368 $6,368

-41.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,559 $2,559

$4,981 $4,981

-48.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$6,065 $6,065

-13.80%

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: November 5, 2025

Last update for Washington, DC: November 2, 2025

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