Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between East Hampton, NY and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in East Hampton, NY: $2,526 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

East Hampton, NY, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
East Hampton, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,526
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in East Hampton, NY and in Chicago, IL

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

A single person spends $2,526 per month in East Hampton, NY vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • East Hampton, NY $2,526
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,756 per month in East Hampton, NY vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • East Hampton, NY $3,756
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,986 per month in East Hampton, NY vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • East Hampton, NY $4,986
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

East Hampton, NY is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both East Hampton, NY and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – East Hampton, NY by 86%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.87 $19.87
$20.71 $20.71
-4.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0 $75.0
$89.2 $89.2
-15.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.56 $11.56
$13.19 $13.19
-12.36%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$5.66 $5.66
-7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.64 $2.64
-1.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.28 $2.28
-10.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 $5.96
$6.87 $6.87
-13.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42 $7.42
$8.84 $8.84
-16.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.25 $1.25
-15.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.72 $3.72
-1.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$5.39 $5.39
-17.07%
Eggs
$4.25 $4.25
$4.74 $4.74
-10.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 $12.67
$13.84 $13.84
-8.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.35 $11.35
$14.40 $14.40
-21.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$18.38 $18.38
-7.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.22 $5.22
-3.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.98 $1.98
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.06 $4.06
15.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$4.97 $4.97
-4.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.67 $2.67
-7.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.66 $2.66
23.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.24 $2.24
-12.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$3.13 $3.13
-32.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.22 $10.22
$13.82 $13.82
-26.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.85 $14.85
$14.88 $14.88
-0.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.54 $2.54
-16.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 $3.15
$3.51 $3.51
-10.26%
🚌 Getting Around
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.43 $2.43
-14.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.6 $60.6
$73.5 $73.5
-17.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.18 $3.18
-12.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.39 $1.39
11.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.16 $28.16
$25.03 $25.03
12.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.20 $1.20
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K $30.8K
$35.0K $35.0K
-12.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.7K $26.7K
-7.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$194 $194
9.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$69.5 $69.5
-26.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$61.6 $61.6
9.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.21 $41.21
$47.90 $47.90
-13.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.99 $12.99
$17.81 $17.81
-27.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,502 $1,502
$1,794 $1,794
-16.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.7K $21.7K
$31.9K $31.9K
-32.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 $59.1
$67.0 $67.0
-11.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64 $46.64
$52.1 $52.1
-10.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 $80.8
$102 $102
-20.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.5 $97.5
$144 $144
-32.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,754 $1,754
$2,526 $2,526
-30.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 $1,201
$1,578 $1,578
-23.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,807 $2,807
$4,738 $4,738
-40.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,083 $2,083
$2,693 $2,693
-22.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,982 $2,982
$4,190 $4,190
-28.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,527 $2,527
$2,768 $2,768
-8.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
East Hampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,931 $4,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.81
-3.52%

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

Last update for East Hampton, NY: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
East Hampton, NY
$1.2K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 31.4% $377
Groceries & Markets
East Hampton, NY
$399
Chicago, IL
$447 12% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
East Hampton, NY
$332
Chicago, IL
$326 1.9% $6.3
Eating Out
East Hampton, NY
$319
Chicago, IL
$345 8% $25
Clothing & Footwear
East Hampton, NY
$128
Chicago, IL
$164 28.3% $36
Getting Around
East Hampton, NY
$79
Chicago, IL
$93 17.5% $14
Sport & Entertainment
East Hampton, NY
$67
Chicago, IL
$84 24.3% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,754 in East Hampton, NY versus $2,526 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in East Hampton, NY versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $447 – making East Hampton, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 East Hampton, NY
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
16:48 4:48 PM
15:48 3:48 PM
1 h behind East Hampton, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,385
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • East Hampton, NY Chicago, IL 1,290 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • East Hampton, NY
  • Chicago, IL

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
East Hampton, NY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in East Hampton, NY and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,526 in East Hampton, NY, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – East Hampton, NY comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in East Hampton, NY compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,789 per month in East Hampton, NY and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between East Hampton, NY and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in East Hampton, NY, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,754 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in East Hampton, NY and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,526 in East Hampton, NY and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: East Hampton, NY or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward East Hampton, NY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: East Hampton, NY or Chicago, IL?
For expats, East Hampton, NY is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 17% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

East Hampton, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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