Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Federal Way, WA is 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Federal Way, WA is 25.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.23 $27.23
$20.82 $20.82
30.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.3 $71.3
$100 $100
-28.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.29 $12.29
$11.97 $11.97
2.67%
Cappuccino
$6.02 $6.02
$5.56 $5.56
8.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.11 $3.11
-3.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.42 $2.42
-9.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.2 $7.2
$6.86 $6.86
4.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 $6.08
$8.45 $8.45
-28.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.04 $1.04
6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$4.15 $4.15
-11.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.3 $4.3
$5.52 $5.52
-22.10%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$4.65 $4.65
4.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.21 $13.21
$14.33 $14.33
-7.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.54 $10.54
$14.88 $14.88
-29.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.4 $17.4
$19.34 $19.34
-10.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.17 $5.17
-2.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.71 $1.71
-8.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.41 $4.41
-2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.51 $4.51
8.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.53 $2.53
20.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.74 $2.74
-2.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.43 $2.43
-19.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.7 $2.7
6.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.33 $12.33
$15.19 $15.19
-18.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.25 $15.25
$16.42 $16.42
-7.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15 $5.15
$3.7 $3.7
39.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.53 $2.53
3.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.34 $3.34
-23.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.42 $1.42
42.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.77 $29.77
$25.42 $25.42
17.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.08 $1.08
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 $127
$188 $188
-32.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$63.7 $63.7
10.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.6 $89.6
$65.2 $65.2
37.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.93 $12.93
$76.7 $76.7
-83.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 $11.06
$14.93 $14.93
-25.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,471 $1,471
$2,063 $2,063
-28.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.1K $32.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-18.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.97 $44.97
$52.4 $52.4
-14.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.4 $88.4
$95.2 $95.2
-7.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4 $96.4
$145 $145
-33.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 $2,035
$2,378 $2,378
-14.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 $2,019
$1,584 $1,584
27.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,741 $2,741
$4,763 $4,763
-42.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,425 $2,425
$2,815 $2,815
-13.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,974 $2,974
$3,588 $3,588
-17.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,657 $2,657
$2,490 $2,490
6.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Federal Way, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,428 $4,428
$5,275 $5,275
-16.05%
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 Federal Way, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.