Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaithersburg, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaithersburg, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Gaithersburg, MD is 5.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Gaithersburg, MD is 4.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.81 $19.81

$20.82 $20.82

-4.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$100 $100

-1.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 $6.84

$11.97 $11.97

-42.86%

Cappuccino

$3.88 $3.88

$5.56 $5.56

-30.22%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$3.11 $3.11

-24.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 $1.11

$2.42 $2.42

-54.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.66 $6.66

$6.86 $6.86

-2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.69 $7.69

$8.45 $8.45

-8.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.04 $1.04

-10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.15 $4.15

-12.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$5.52 $5.52

21.92%

Eggs

$6.62 $6.62

$4.65 $4.65

42.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 $11.01

$14.33 $14.33

-23.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.57 $17.57

$14.88 $14.88

18.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.63 $21.63

$19.34 $19.34

11.84%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$5.17 $5.17

46.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.71 $1.71

64.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.93 $7.93

$4.41 $4.41

79.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.29 $8.29

$4.51 $4.51

83.81%

Potato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.53 $2.53

84.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.74 $2.74

37.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.43 $2.43

12.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.7 $2.7

-25.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.11 $8.11

$15.19 $15.19

-46.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.69 $13.69

$16.42 $16.42

-16.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.7 $3.7

0.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.34 $3.34

31.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.42 $1.42

-2.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.66 $28.66

$25.42 $25.42

12.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-18.34%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.69%

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

$130 $130

$188 $188

-31.12%

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

$52.3 $52.3

$63.7 $63.7

-17.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.3 $55.3

$65.2 $65.2

-15.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.61 $29.61

$76.7 $76.7

-61.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.49 $15.49

$14.93 $14.93

3.75%

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

$1,178 $1,178

$2,063 $2,063

-42.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.9 $46.9

$64.3 $64.3

-27.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.93 $19.93

$52.4 $52.4

-61.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 $81.5

$95.2 $95.2

-14.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$145 $145

-15.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,768 $1,768

$2,378 $2,378

-25.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 $1,604

$1,584 $1,584

1.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$4,763 $4,763

-53.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,405 $2,405

$2,815 $2,815

-14.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 $2,511

$3,588 $3,588

-30.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 $2,602

$2,490 $2,490

4.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,892 $5,892

$5,275 $5,275

11.69%

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 Gaithersburg, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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