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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,501 in West Hartford, CT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,041 in West Hartford, CT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,580 in West Hartford, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 11% cheaper than West Hartford, CT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and West Hartford, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, West Hartford, CT by 155%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$27.99 $27.99

-29.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$100 $100

-12.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$13.11 $13.11

0.92%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.29 $5.29

10.78%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.62 $2.62

-0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.05 $2.05

13.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$7.05 $7.05

-0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$10.66 $10.66

-13.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.53 $1.53

-12.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.73 $3.73

12.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.22 $5.22

5.36%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.08 $5.08

-7.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$17.54 $17.54

-16.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$16.08 $16.08

-9.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$17.48 $17.48

12.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.77 $4.77

18.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.75 $1.75

12.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.37 $5.37

-24.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.69 $4.69

8.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.19 $3.19

-7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.71 $3.71

-21.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.29 $2.29

-0.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.06 $2.06

51.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$13.96 $13.96

15.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.90 $14.90

1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.07 $2.07

28.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.79 $3.79

-8.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.77 $1.77

43.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$61.7 $61.7

23.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.92 $4.92

-35.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.85 $0.85

61.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$30.39 $30.39

-25.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.05 $1.05

14.29%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

3.47%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.59%

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

$190 $190

$213 $213

-10.80%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$68.8 $68.8

-0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$89.9 $89.9

-32.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$27.27 $27.27

133.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$17.89 $17.89

55.39%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$14.94 $14.94

22.36%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,496 $1,496

1.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$28.4K $28.4K

12.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$55.0 $55.0

16.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$39.46 $39.46

37.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$98.3 $98.3

2.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$107 $107

42.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$2,366 $2,366

2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,922 $1,922

-12.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$3,997 $3,997

14.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$3,176 $3,176

-12.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,929 $2,929

42.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,516 $2,516

8.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$6,047 $6,047

-21.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for West Hartford, CT: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $2,366 in West Hartford, CT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in West Hartford, CT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in West Hartford, CT. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $457 in West Hartford, CT – so West Hartford, CT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 West Hartford, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $3,501 in West Hartford, CT – roughly 13% apart. West Hartford, CT costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,252 in West Hartford, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in West Hartford, CT – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $100 in West Hartford, CT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $3,501 in West Hartford, CT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $3,501 in West Hartford, CT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, West Hartford, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.