Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Yakima, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Yakima, WA: $2,253 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
109

Cost of Living Index in Yakima, WA
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Yakima, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Yakima, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,253

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Yakima, WA

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 Yakima, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,253 in Yakima, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Yakima, WA $2,253

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,276 in Yakima, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Yakima, WA $3,276

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,299 in Yakima, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Yakima, WA $4,299

Chicago, IL costs about 39% more than Yakima, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Yakima, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Yakima, WA by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$15.57 $15.57

32.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$64.1 $64.1

40.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.38 $11.38

13.71%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.54 $4.54

23.35%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.15 $2.15

22.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.63 $2.63

-13.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.78 $3.78

84.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$4.17 $4.17

111.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.99 $0.99

28.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.90 $3.90

-2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.60 $3.60

47.22%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.22 $3.22

47.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$11.70 $11.70

19.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$8.88 $8.88

64.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$14.80 $14.80

26.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.48 $3.48

49.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.58 $1.58

25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.27 $4.27

-7.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.42 $3.42

45.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.28 $2.28

21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.16 $2.16

27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.05 $2.05

8.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.69 $1.69

76.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$12.34 $12.34

13.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.06 $14.06

8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.75 $1.75

47.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.83 $4.83

-27.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$5.08 $5.08

-51.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.62 $2.62

27.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.92 $0.92

55.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$30.08 $30.08

-19.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.27 $1.27

-0.79%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

23.88%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.2K $27.2K

-4.18%

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

$193 $193

$219 $219

-11.89%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$54.1 $54.1

26.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$69.1 $69.1

-11.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$51.4 $51.4

5.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$14.10 $14.10

25.82%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,720 $1,720

-3.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$7,241 $7,241

328.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$61.7 $61.7

7.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.66 $43.66

17.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$81.5 $81.5

22.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$110 $110

28.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,044 $1,044

134.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,063 $1,063

57.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,694 $1,694

178.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,749 $1,749

59.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,662 $2,662

54.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,471 $2,471

7.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,530 $3,530

37.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.44

5.75%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Yakima, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Yakima, WA

$1.1K 47.2% 36.6% $615

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Yakima, WA

$348 15.4% 22.7% $102

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Yakima, WA

$260 11.5% 24.4% $84

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Yakima, WA

$342 15.2% 6.1% $20

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Yakima, WA

$133 5.9% 17.2% $28

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Yakima, WA

$28 * 1.2% 71.1% $68

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Yakima, WA

$80 3.5% 11.2% $10

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,044 in Yakima, WA. 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 38% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 in Chicago, IL versus $64 in Yakima, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $348 – making Yakima, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Yakima, WA

🕒 Local time

15:14 3:14 PM

13:14 1:14 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

96,968

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Yakima, WA 2,650 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Yakima, WA

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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 Yakima, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,253 in Yakima, WA – roughly 39% 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 $3,379 in Yakima, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yakima, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,044 there versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Chicago, IL and $64 in Yakima, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,253 in Yakima, WA. 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 $2,253 in Yakima, WA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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