Cost of Living Comparison Between Crystal Lake, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Crystal Lake, IL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Crystal Lake, IL is 3.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Crystal Lake, IL is 20.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.14 $15.14

$20.82 $20.82

-27.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 $75.5

$100 $100

-24.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.06 $11.06

$11.97 $11.97

-7.60%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.56 $5.56

-5.22%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.11 $3.11

-15.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.42 $2.42

-3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$6.86 $6.86

-15.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$8.45 $8.45

-14.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.04 $1.04

-11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.15 $4.15

-10.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.52 $5.52

-4.17%

Eggs

$3.92 $3.92

$4.65 $4.65

-15.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.73 $13.73

$14.33 $14.33

-4.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.25 $13.25

$14.88 $14.88

-10.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.35 $16.35

$19.34 $19.34

-15.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.17 $5.17

-15.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.71 $1.71

-14.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.41 $4.41

30.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$4.51 $4.51

2.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.53 $2.53

5.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.74 $2.74

4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.43 $2.43

-20.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.7 $2.7

-24.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 $9.94

$15.19 $15.19

-34.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 $12.12

$16.42 $16.42

-26.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.35 $2.35

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.7 $3.7

29.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.34 $3.34

36.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.42 $1.42

50.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.81 $41.81

$25.42 $25.42

64.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.08 $1.08

-17.59%

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

$25K $25K

$32.4K $32.4K

-22.88%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.24%

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

$218 $218

$188 $188

15.67%

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

$50.3 $50.3

$63.7 $63.7

-21.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 $75.4

$65.2 $65.2

15.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.18 $42.18

$76.7 $76.7

-45.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$14.93 $14.93

1.88%

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

$1,649 $1,649

$2,063 $2,063

-20.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 $65.6

$64.3 $64.3

1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.71 $48.71

$52.4 $52.4

-7.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

7.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$145 $145

-9.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$2,378 $2,378

-32.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 $1,592

$1,584 $1,584

0.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,642 $2,642

$4,763 $4,763

-44.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,178 $2,178

$2,815 $2,815

-22.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,593 $2,593

$3,588 $3,588

-27.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,148 $2,148

$2,490 $2,490

-13.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Crystal Lake, IL: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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