Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Watertown, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Watertown, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.9% more expensive than Watertown, NY without rent, and 53% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 56.7% more expensive than Watertown, NY without rent, and 41.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$13.65 $13.65

52.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$56.5 $56.5

77.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.93 $11.93

0.34%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.3 $5.3

4.91%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.33 $2.33

33.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.07 $2.07

16.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.41 $5.41

26.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.82 $6.82

23.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.68 $0.68

52.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.37 $2.37

75.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.72 $4.72

16.95%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.13 $3.13

48.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.29 $13.29

7.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.44 $8.44

76.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.85 $11.85

63.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.91 $3.91

32.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.28 $5.28

-16.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.08 $5.08

-11.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.56 $2.56

-1.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.47 $3.47

-21.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.49 $2.49

-2.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.45 $2.45

10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.95 $13.95

8.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.91 $17.91

-8.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$7.19 $7.19

-48.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.48 $1.48

70.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$43.53 $43.53

70.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.18 $5.18

-35.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.22 $2.22

-36.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$44.97 $44.97

-43.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$33.3K $33.3K

-2.55%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.35%

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

$188 $188

$198 $198

-5.16%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.75 $46.75

36.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.1 $61.1

6.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.31 $42.31

81.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.66 $10.66

40.06%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$901 $901

128.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$28.5K $28.5K

37.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.59 $45.59

41.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.51 $45.51

15.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$115 $115

26.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$882 $882

169.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$761 $761

108.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,695 $1,695

181.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,882 $1,882

49.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,438 $1,438

149.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,450 $1,450

71.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,642 $2,642

99.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Watertown, NY: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States