Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellicott City, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellicott City, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Ellicott City, MD is 22.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ellicott City, MD is 18.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.2 $20.2

$20.82 $20.82

-2.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$100 $100

-12.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$11.97 $11.97

-16.29%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.56 $5.56

-7.19%

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

$3.29 $3.29

$3.11 $3.11

5.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.42 $2.42

4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$6.86 $6.86

-14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.67 $7.67

$8.45 $8.45

-9.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.04 $1.04

13.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.15 $4.15

-13.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.52 $5.52

-17.93%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.65 $4.65

-4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.96 $17.96

$14.33 $14.33

25.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$14.88 $14.88

-31.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.28 $16.28

$19.34 $19.34

-15.82%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$5.17 $5.17

30.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.71 $1.71

73.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$4.41 $4.41

57.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.51 $4.51

21.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.53 $2.53

11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.74 $2.74

10.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.43 $2.43

4.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.7 $2.7

-1.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.15 $8.15

$15.19 $15.19

-46.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$16.42 $16.42

-7.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.35 $2.35

-3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.7 $3.7

4.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.53 $2.53

-18.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 $1.81

$3.34 $3.34

-45.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.42 $1.42

-6.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.19 $24.19

$25.42 $25.42

-4.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.08 $1.08

-23.15%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

-23.31%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.48%

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

$169 $169

$188 $188

-9.95%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$63.7 $63.7

-17.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.6 $78.6

$65.2 $65.2

20.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.19 $42.19

$76.7 $76.7

-45.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$14.93 $14.93

2.28%

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

$1,293 $1,293

$2,063 $2,063

-37.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.8K $32.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-16.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.16 $48.16

$64.3 $64.3

-25.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.71 $48.71

$52.4 $52.4

-7.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 $85.8

$95.2 $95.2

-9.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$145 $145

-23.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,607 $1,607

$2,378 $2,378

-32.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 $1,339

$1,584 $1,584

-15.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$4,763 $4,763

-45.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,238 $2,238

$2,815 $2,815

-20.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,376 $2,376

$3,588 $3,588

-33.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,098 $2,098

$2,490 $2,490

-15.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,952 $4,952

$5,275 $5,275

-6.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

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

Last update for Ellicott City, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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