Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Windsor, CT

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Windsor, CT: $3,139 and $3,237 a month, rent and utilities included.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
156

Cost of Living Index in Windsor, CT
Learn more

Windsor, CT Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Windsor, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$3,237

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Windsor, CT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Windsor, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,237 in Windsor, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Windsor, CT $3,237

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,524 in Windsor, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Windsor, CT $4,524

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,812 in Windsor, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Windsor, CT $5,812

Chicago, IL is about 3% cheaper than Windsor, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Windsor, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Windsor, CT by 139%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$30.20 $30.20

-31.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$100 $100

-9.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.77 $11.77

9.94%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.23 $5.23

7.07%

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

$2.64 $2.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.23 $2.23

1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.89 $6.89

1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.35 $7.35

20.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.42 $1.42

-10.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.69 $4.69

-18.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$7.20 $7.20

-26.39%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$6.07 $6.07

-21.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$20.70 $20.70

-32.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$14.67 $14.67

-0.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$19.44 $19.44

-3.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$7.17 $7.17

-27.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.11 $2.11

-6.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.58 $5.58

-29.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.50 $4.50

10.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.24 $2.24

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.04 $3.04

-26.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.95 $2.95

1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$13.37 $13.37

4.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$16.29 $16.29

-6.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.05 $3.05

-15.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.49 $4.49

-22.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.80 $1.80

37.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$99.1 $99.1

-24.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.67 $2.67

25.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.77 $1.77

-19.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$20.25 $20.25

20.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.10 $1.10

14.55%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.8K $28.8K

21.48%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.9K $26.9K

-2.98%

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

$193 $193

$224 $224

-13.82%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$55.4 $55.4

23.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$86.4 $86.4

-29.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$41.61 $41.61

30.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$20.40 $20.40

36.86%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$15.37 $15.37

15.42%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,187 $1,187

39.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$33.9K $33.9K

-8.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$69.1 $69.1

-4.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$50.5 $50.5

1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$80.1 $80.1

25.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$98.9 $98.9

42.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,968 $1,968

24.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,621 $1,621

3.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,480 $2,480

90.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,164 $2,164

29.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,050 $3,050

34.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,272 $2,272

16.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,648 $5,648

-13.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.56

3.81%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Windsor, CT: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Windsor, CT

$1.6K 50.1% 3.4% $57

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Windsor, CT

$518 16% 15.2% $68

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Windsor, CT

$408 12.6% 18.9% $65

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Windsor, CT

$365 11.3% 13.4% $43

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Windsor, CT

$134 4.2% 16.7% $27

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Windsor, CT

$118 3.6% 23.8% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Windsor, CT

$72 2.2% 19.3% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,968 in Windsor, 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 16% higher in Windsor, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Windsor, CT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $518 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Windsor, CT

🕒 Local time

02:31 2:31 AM

03:31 3:31 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

22,522

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Windsor, CT 1,240 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Windsor, CT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Windsor, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $3,237 in Windsor, CT – roughly 3% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,855 in Windsor, 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.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Windsor, CT, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Windsor, 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 $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $3,237 in Windsor, 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 $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,237 in Windsor, 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, Windsor, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.