Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wilkes-Barre, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wilkes-Barre, PA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.8% more expensive than Wilkes-Barre, PA without rent, and 4.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.6% cheaper than Wilkes-Barre, PA without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$30.3 $30.3
-31.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$50.1 $50.1
100.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.64 $10.64
12.50%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.86 $3.86
44.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$0.98 $0.98
217.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.64 $2.64
-8.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.98 $7.98
-14.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$11.89 $11.89
-28.93%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.61 $1.61
-35.40%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.23 $5.23
-20.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$8.32 $8.32
-33.65%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.92 $6.92
-32.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.58 $17.58
-18.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.19 $16.19
-8.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.99 $19.99
-3.25%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.39 $7.39
-30.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.42 $2.42
-29.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.7 $5.7
-22.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.46 $6.46
-30.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.75 $3.75
-32.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.99 $3.99
-31.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.2 $3.2
-24.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.54 $2.54
6.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$18.85 $18.85
-19.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$18.95 $18.95
-13.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.88 $2.88
-18.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.88 $3.88
-4.64%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.04 $5.04
-33.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.35 $1.35
5.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.48 $42.48
-40.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.3K $35.3K
-8.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28K $28K
-6.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$184 $184
2.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$61 $61
4.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.8 $63.8
2.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.53 $43.53
76.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$19.79 $19.79
-24.56%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$3,131 $3,131
-34.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.6K $23.6K
65.94%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$66 $66
-2.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$47.35 $47.35
10.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$112 $112
-14.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$169 $169
-14.24%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,626 $1,626
46.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,358 $1,358
16.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,585 $2,585
84.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,235 $2,235
25.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,384 $2,384
50.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,439 $2,439
2.10%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,369 $4,369
20.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.44
2.48%

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 Wilkes-Barre, PA: October 29, 2025

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