Cost of Living Comparison Between Doylestown, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Doylestown, PA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,097 per month in Doylestown, PA vs $3,111 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,453 per month in Doylestown, PA vs $4,680 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,809 per month in Doylestown, PA vs $6,249 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Doylestown, PA and Chicago, IL have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Doylestown, PA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Doylestown, PA by 130%, Chicago, IL by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$20.39 $20.39

-3.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 $54.4

$98.2 $98.2

-44.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.21 $12.21

$12.07 $12.07

1.16%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$5.73 $5.73

-16.23%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.97 $2.97

-13.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.47 $2.47

-21.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.54 $6.54

$6.99 $6.99

-6.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$8.21 $8.21

-16.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.05 $1.05

2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.08 $4.08

-10.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.50 $5.50

10.36%

Eggs

$2.39 $2.39

$4.64 $4.64

-48.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$14.40 $14.40

11.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.35 $17.35

$15.20 $15.20

14.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.56 $17.56

$19.28 $19.28

-8.92%

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$5.14 $5.14

47.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.76 $1.76

17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.38 $9.38

$4.34 $4.34

116.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.36 $4.36

32.11%

Potato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.44 $2.44

98.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.79 $2.79

34.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.52 $2.52

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.66 $2.66

-24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.15 $11.15

$14.90 $14.90

-25.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$14.97 $14.97

2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.45 $2.45

-28.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.54 $3.54

6.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.43 $2.43

-17.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.71 $39.71

$74.5 $74.5

-46.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 $5.88

$3.32 $3.32

77.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.38 $1.38

10.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.39 $41.39

$25.11 $25.11

64.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 $1.09

-23.85%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-7.10%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.53%

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

$147 $147

$187 $187

-21.55%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$63.5 $63.5

-19.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.9 $54.9

$65.5 $65.5

-16.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.96 $27.96

$75.7 $75.7

-63.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 $13.10

$14.80 $14.80

-11.49%

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

$713 $713

$2,025 $2,025

-64.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K $10.8K

$39.0K $39.0K

-72.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$64.2 $64.2

-13.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.09 $32.09

$51.7 $51.7

-37.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 $87.8

$95.6 $95.6

-8.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 $83.3

$145 $145

-42.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,734 $1,734

$2,326 $2,326

-25.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,796 $1,796

$1,611 $1,611

11.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,989 $2,989

$4,703 $4,703

-36.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,940 $2,940

$2,721 $2,721

8.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,541 $2,541

$5,100 $5,100

-50.17%

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 Doylestown, PA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,734 in Doylestown, PA versus $2,326 in Chicago, IL. 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 101% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Doylestown, PA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $489 in Doylestown, PA vs $448 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Doylestown, PA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,646 per month in Doylestown, PA and $4,666 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Doylestown, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Doylestown, PA and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 88% less in Doylestown, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,097 in Doylestown, PA and $3,111 in Chicago, IL. 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 $3,097 in Doylestown, PA to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. 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 Doylestown, PA. 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.