Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Wasilla, AK: $2,898 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 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
140

Cost of Living Index in Wasilla, AK
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Wasilla, AK Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Wasilla, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$2,898

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,898 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Wasilla, AK $2,898

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,103 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Wasilla, AK $4,103

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,309 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Wasilla, AK $5,309

Chicago, IL costs about 6% more than Wasilla, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Wasilla, AK sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Wasilla, AK by 114%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$24.85 $24.85

-17.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$100 $100

-11.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.93 $11.93

7.71%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.07 $4.07

42.01%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.04 $2.04

34.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.95 $1.95

15.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.36 $5.36

28.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.90 $7.90

16.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.20 $1.20

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.07 $3.07

15.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$6.14 $6.14

-12.38%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.37 $3.37

35.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$13.40 $13.40

1.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$10.57 $10.57

33.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$15.70 $15.70

15.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$8.15 $8.15

-36.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.14 $2.14

-7.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.45 $4.45

8.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.60 $2.60

8.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.06 $3.06

-12.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.71 $2.71

-23.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.27 $2.27

33.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.93 $12.93

7.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$19.09 $19.09

-21.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.70 $1.70

54.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$59.8 $59.8

25.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$5.99 $5.99

-47.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.72 $1.72

-1.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$37.93 $37.93

-34.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.00 $1.00

28.00%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

38.23%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.30%

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

$192 $192

$265 $265

-27.66%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$47.66 $47.66

46.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$140 $140

-55.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$85.0 $85.0

-43.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$34.87 $34.87

-22.28%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$8.44 $8.44

111.26%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,260 $1,260

44.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$15.9K $15.9K

155.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$48.47 $48.47

36.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$45.86 $45.86

12.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$79.6 $79.6

29.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$91.8 $91.8

55.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,416 $1,416

78.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,380 $1,380

17.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$1,986 $1,986

143.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,981 $1,981

38.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.49

4.47%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Wasilla, AK: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Wasilla, AK

$1.4K 47.6% 14.8% $241

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Wasilla, AK

$418 14.4% 4.9% $21

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Wasilla, AK

$342 11.8% 0.6% $2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Wasilla, AK

$453 15.7% 40% $130

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Wasilla, AK

$120 4.1% 26.9% $44

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Wasilla, AK

$83 2.9% 14.7% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Wasilla, AK

$102 3.5% 22.1% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,416 in Wasilla, AK. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Wasilla, AK. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Chicago, IL vs $418 in Wasilla, AK – so Wasilla, AK wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Wasilla, AK

🕒 Local time

05:59 5:59 AM

02:59 2:59 AM

3 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

9,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Wasilla, AK 4,560 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,898 in Wasilla, AK – Wasilla, AK comes out roughly 6% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,346 in Wasilla, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wasilla, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,416 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 Wasilla, 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,898 in Wasilla, AK. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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