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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,011 per month in Fairbanks, AK vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,383 per month in Fairbanks, AK vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,756 per month in Fairbanks, AK vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fairbanks, AK is about 3% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Fairbanks, AK and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Fairbanks, AK by 119%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.10 $25.10

$19.86 $19.86

26.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.3 $88.3

13.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.22 $15.22

$13.23 $13.23

15.04%

Cappuccino

$6.22 $6.22

$5.86 $5.86

6.14%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.61 $2.61

6.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.32 $2.32

-15.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$7.03 $7.03

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$9.25 $9.25

9.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.34 $1.34

-13.43%

White Bread (500g)

$5.43 $5.43

$4.19 $4.19

29.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.50 $5.50

-11.64%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$4.71 $4.71

-9.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.35 $22.35

$14.72 $14.72

51.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 $9.00

$14.53 $14.53

-38.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.60 $20.60

$19.69 $19.69

4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.68 $7.68

$5.64 $5.64

36.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.97 $1.97

4.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$4.04 $4.04

46.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.07 $5.07

27.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.94 $2.94

24.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.92 $2.92

23.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.28 $2.28

26.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.12 $3.12

-34.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.91 $11.91

$16.19 $16.19

-26.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$15.17 $15.17

-20.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.67 $2.67

-35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.54 $2.54

-41.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.60 $39.60

$76.0 $76.0

-47.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.16 $3.16

12.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.37 $1.37

55.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.14 $44.14

$22.66 $22.66

94.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.20 $1.20

5.83%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

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

$26.0K $26.0K

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

$208 $208

$190 $190

9.97%

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

$61.3 $61.3

$68.5 $68.5

-10.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$142 $142

$61.1 $61.1

133.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 $98.7

$63.8 $63.8

54.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.17 $18.17

$18.28 $18.28

-0.60%

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

$1,821 $1,821

$1,525 $1,525

19.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 $60.8

$64.0 $64.0

-5.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.70 $39.70

$54.4 $54.4

-27.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$101 $101

17.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$153 $153

-21.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 $1,569

$2,421 $2,421

-35.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 $1,397

$1,690 $1,690

-17.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,620 $2,620

$4,584 $4,584

-42.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 $2,191

$2,782 $2,782

-21.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,003 $2,003

$4,170 $4,170

-51.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,019 $2,019

$2,739 $2,739

-26.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,932 $3,932

$4,777 $4,777

-17.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.38

-1.72%

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

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,569 in Fairbanks, AK versus $2,421 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 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Fairbanks, AK versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $470 vs $465 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fairbanks, AK vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,011 in Fairbanks, AK, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 3% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,516 per month in Fairbanks, AK and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Fairbanks, AK and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,011 in Fairbanks, AK and $3,106 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 $3,011 in Fairbanks, AK to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Fairbanks, AK. 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.