Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Chester, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Chester, PA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.7% more expensive than West Chester, PA without rent, and 4.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12% more expensive than West Chester, PA without rent, and 0.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.87 $19.87
4.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.9 $79.9
25.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.88 $13.88
-13.76%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.21 $5.21
6.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.44 $2.44
27.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.95 $1.95
24.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.13 $6.13
11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.87 $8.87
-4.74%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.29 $1.29
-19.38%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.68 $3.68
12.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.99 $4.99
10.62%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.85 $4.85
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.81 $10.81
32.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.63 $11.63
27.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.52 $17.52
10.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.97 $4.97
4.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.72 $1.72
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.02 $4.02
9.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.17 $4.17
8.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.87 $2.87
-11.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.88 $3.88
-29.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.72 $1.72
41.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.59 $2.59
4.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.68 $11.68
30.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.27 $14.27
15.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.68 $2.68
38.06%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.19 $2.19
15.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$102 $102
-27.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.03 $3.03
10.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.18 $2.18
-34.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.47 $24.47
3.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.93 $0.93
16.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.7K $32.7K
-1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25K $25K
4.81%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$128 $128
46.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.51 $45.51
39.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.1 $65.1
0.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$45.06 $45.06
70.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.02 $15.02
-0.60%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,206 $2,206
-6.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
63.62%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$62.6 $62.6
2.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$24.65 $24.65
112.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$74.7 $74.7
27.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$130 $130
11.41%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,984 $1,984
19.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,819 $1,819
-12.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,488 $3,488
36.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,190 $3,190
-11.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$10.8K $10.8K
-66.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,037 $2,037
22.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
West Chester, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,201 $4,201
25.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.62
-0.30%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for West Chester, PA: October 28, 2025

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