Cost of Living Comparison Between College Park, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between College Park, MD and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: College Park, MD is 3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: College Park, MD is 23.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.83 $19.83
$20.82 $20.82
-4.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.2 $80.2
$100 $100
-20.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.29 $13.29
$11.97 $11.97
11.03%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$5.56 $5.56
-3.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.11 $3.11
-8.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.42 $2.42
-7.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$6.86 $6.86
-10.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.6 $7.6
$8.45 $8.45
-10.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 $3.35
$4.15 $4.15
-19.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.22 $7.22
$5.52 $5.52
30.80%
Eggs
$5.02 $5.02
$4.65 $4.65
7.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.05 $19.05
$14.33 $14.33
32.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.2 $10.2
$14.88 $14.88
-31.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 $16.78
$19.34 $19.34
-13.24%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$5.17 $5.17
20.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.71 $1.71
6.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.26 $8.26
$4.41 $4.41
87.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.43 $6.43
$4.51 $4.51
42.57%
Potato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.53 $2.53
91.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.74 $2.74
36.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.43 $2.43
-5.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.7 $2.7
-7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.56 $11.56
$15.19 $15.19
-23.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 $13.76
$16.42 $16.42
-16.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.7 $3.7
-0.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 $4.42
$3.34 $3.34
32.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.42 $1.42
6.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.75 $28.75
$25.42 $25.42
13.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-18.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.29%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$188 $188
13.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.4 $63.4
$63.7 $63.7
-0.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3 $73.3
$65.2 $65.2
12.36%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.6 $39.6
$76.7 $76.7
-48.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.8 $14.8
$14.93 $14.93
-0.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,746 $1,746
$2,063 $2,063
-15.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.54%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 $53.3
$64.3 $64.3
-17.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.85 $32.85
$52.4 $52.4
-37.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.2 $95.2
-0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182 $182
$145 $145
26.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$2,378 $2,378
-32.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 $1,598
$1,584 $1,584
0.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,563 $3,563
$4,763 $4,763
-25.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 $2,712
$2,815 $2,815
-3.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,016 $3,016
$3,588 $3,588
-15.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,508 $2,508
$2,490 $2,490
0.70%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
College Park, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,576 $5,576
$5,275 $5,275
5.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for College Park, MD: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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