Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Hartford, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Hartford, CT

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.2% more expensive than West Hartford, CT without rent, and 8.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.3% more expensive than West Hartford, CT without rent, and 9.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$25.43 $25.43
-20.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$99.3 $99.3
2.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$12.05 $12.05
-0.25%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.39 $4.39
28.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.72 $2.72
10.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 $2.18
7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$6.62 $6.62
5.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.85 $7.85
7.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.34 $1.34
-18.66%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.61 $3.61
14.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.26 $5.26
5.89%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$5.60 $5.60
-19.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$17.49 $17.49
-17.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$13.33 $13.33
12.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$14.84 $14.84
27.90%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$6.93 $6.93
-24.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.88 $1.88
-5.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.67 $5.67
-23.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.06 $6.06
-25.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.36 $4.36
-41.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.54 $3.54
-23.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.87 $2.87
-13.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.96 $1.96
34.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$13.20 $13.20
14.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$14.73 $14.73
1.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.18 $2.18
13.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.43 $2.43
50.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.06 $2.06
24.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$62.1 $62.1
19.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.44 $3.44
-4.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.84 $0.84
63.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.69 $29.69
-15.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.91 $0.91
16.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
4.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.4K $26.4K
-0.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$244 $244
-23.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$73.5 $73.5
-14.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$69.2 $69.2
-4.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$42.36 $42.36
77.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$18.21 $18.21
-28.89%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$14.85 $14.85
1.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,484 $1,484
39.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$28.4K $28.4K
36.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$54.0 $54.0
18.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$37.86 $37.86
34.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$65.0 $65.0
49.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$146 $146
-1.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$2,723 $2,723
-14.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,356 $1,356
19.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,594 $2,594
83.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,205 $2,205
25.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$3,010 $3,010
25.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,527 $2,527
3.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
West Hartford, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$6,206 $6,206
-19.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.38
3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for West Hartford, CT: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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