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

🙂 Solo nomad: Germantown, MD is 21.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Germantown, MD is 7.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$20.82 $20.82
-5.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4 $78.4
$100 $100
-21.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 $11.79
$11.97 $11.97
-1.50%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$5.56 $5.56
-7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.11 $3.11
-18.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$6.86 $6.86
-14.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.18 $8.18
$8.45 $8.45
-3.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.04 $1.04
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.15 $4.15
-0.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.52 $5.52
-18.30%
Eggs
$2.94 $2.94
$4.65 $4.65
-36.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.21 $13.21
$14.33 $14.33
-7.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.78 $8.78
$14.88 $14.88
-40.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 $13.05
$19.34 $19.34
-32.52%
Apples (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$5.17 $5.17
23.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.71 $1.71
-33.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.41 $4.41
2.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.97 $5.97
$4.51 $4.51
32.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.53 $2.53
-13.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.74 $2.74
37.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.43 $2.43
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.7 $2.7
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$15.19 $15.19
-41.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.07 $20.07
$16.42 $16.42
22.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.7 $3.7
-16.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.53 $2.53
-1.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.4 $87.4
$74.1 $74.1
17.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.34 $3.34
6.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.14 $22.14
$25.42 $25.42
-12.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-10.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$188 $188
-2.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.6 $50.6
$63.7 $63.7
-20.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 $56.3
$65.2 $65.2
-13.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.19 $42.19
$76.7 $76.7
-45.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.03 $15.03
$14.93 $14.93
0.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,882 $1,882
$2,063 $2,063
-8.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40K $40K
$39.2K $39.2K
2.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.83 $45.83
$64.3 $64.3
-28.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.21 $40.21
$52.4 $52.4
-23.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$95.2 $95.2
-6.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$145 $145
3.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$2,378 $2,378
-8.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 $1,802
$1,584 $1,584
13.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 $2,589
$4,763 $4,763
-45.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,255 $2,255
$2,815 $2,815
-19.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,004 $3,004
$3,588 $3,588
-16.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,464 $2,464
$2,490 $2,490
-1.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Germantown, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,967 $4,967
$5,275 $5,275
-5.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Germantown, MD: October 28, 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.