Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairbanks, AK and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairbanks, AK and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Fairbanks, AK is 21.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Fairbanks, AK is 8.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.8 $24.8

$20.82 $20.82

19.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$100 $100

-11.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.1 $14.1

$11.97 $11.97

17.79%

Cappuccino

$6.02 $6.02

$5.56 $5.56

8.27%

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

$2.85 $2.85

$3.11 $3.11

-8.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.42 $2.42

-15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.8 $7.8

$6.86 $6.86

13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$8.45 $8.45

17.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.04 $1.04

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.15 $4.15

27.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.3 $5.3

$5.52 $5.52

-3.99%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$4.65 $4.65

-9.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.96 $17.96

$14.33 $14.33

25.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.97 $16.97

$14.88 $14.88

14.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.32 $21.32

$19.34 $19.34

10.24%

Apples (1kg)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.17 $5.17

50.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.71 $1.71

64.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$4.41 $4.41

50.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.09 $7.09

$4.51 $4.51

57.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.53 $2.53

49.01%

Onion (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.74 $2.74

74.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.43 $2.43

23.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.7 $2.7

-27.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.23 $11.23

$15.19 $15.19

-26.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.1 $15.1

$16.42 $16.42

-8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$3.7 $3.7

-73.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.53 $2.53

-39.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.51 $39.51

$74.1 $74.1

-46.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.34 $3.34

5.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.42 $1.42

51.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.29 $45.29

$25.42 $25.42

78.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.08 $1.08

-3.70%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.08%

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

$26K $26K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.77%

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

$170 $170

$188 $188

-9.65%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$63.7 $63.7

-5.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$113 $113

$65.2 $65.2

73.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.9 $98.9

$76.7 $76.7

28.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$17.01 $17.01

$14.93 $14.93

13.93%

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

$1,201 $1,201

$2,063 $2,063

-41.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 $60.3

$64.3 $64.3

-6.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.53 $39.53

$52.4 $52.4

-24.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$95.2 $95.2

-9.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$145 $145

-17.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$2,378 $2,378

-31.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 $1,500

$1,584 $1,584

-5.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$4,763 $4,763

-52.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,024 $2,024

$2,815 $2,815

-28.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,927 $1,927

$3,588 $3,588

-46.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,957 $1,957

$2,490 $2,490

-21.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,802 $3,802

$5,275 $5,275

-27.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

London

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

Copenhagen

🇩🇰 Denmark

Oslo

🇳🇴 Norway

Los Angeles, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Boston, MA

🇺🇸 United States

Washington, DC

🇺🇸 United States

San Jose, CA

🇺🇸 United States