Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfield, CT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfield, CT and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Fairfield, CT is 12.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Fairfield, CT is 19% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.64 $18.64
$20.82 $20.82
-10.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4 $75.4
$100 $100
-24.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 $11.12
$11.97 $11.97
-7.10%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$5.56 $5.56
-7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.11 $3.11
-19.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.42 $2.42
-15.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 $5.87
$6.86 $6.86
-14.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$8.45 $8.45
-17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.04 $1.04
0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 $3.44
$4.15 $4.15
-17.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.52 $5.52
-19.75%
Eggs
$4.1 $4.1
$4.65 $4.65
-11.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 $12.38
$14.33 $14.33
-13.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.28 $11.28
$14.88 $14.88
-24.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.57 $15.57
$19.34 $19.34
-19.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.85 $4.85
$5.17 $5.17
-6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.41 $4.41
-1.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$4.51 $4.51
3.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.53 $2.53
10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.74 $2.74
6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.43 $2.43
-17.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.43 $9.43
$15.19 $15.19
-37.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.44 $12.44
$16.42 $16.42
-24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.7 $3.7
-11.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.1 $70.1
$74.1 $74.1
-5.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.34 $3.34
6.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.81 $28.81
$25.42 $25.42
13.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$188 $188
0.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 $53.7
$63.7 $63.7
-15.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68 $68
$65.2 $65.2
4.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.9 $42.9
$76.7 $76.7
-44.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.72 $13.72
$14.93 $14.93
-8.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,320 $1,320
$2,063 $2,063
-36.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 $51.4
$64.3 $64.3
-20.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$52.4 $52.4
-22.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 $88.1
$95.2 $95.2
-7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,605 $1,605
$2,378 $2,378
-32.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 $1,374
$1,584 $1,584
-13.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$4,763 $4,763
-44.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,205 $2,205
$2,815 $2,815
-21.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,356 $2,356
$3,588 $3,588
-34.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,366 $2,366
$2,490 $2,490
-4.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fairfield, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,925 $4,925
$5,275 $5,275
-6.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CT: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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