Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilbert, AZ and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Gilbert, AZ: $2,890 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

139

Cost of Living Index in Gilbert, AZ
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Gilbert, AZ Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Gilbert, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,890

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gilbert, AZ and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gilbert, AZ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,890 per month in Gilbert, AZ vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Gilbert, AZ $2,890
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,149 per month in Gilbert, AZ vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Gilbert, AZ $4,149
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,408 per month in Gilbert, AZ vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Gilbert, AZ $5,408
Chicago, IL $5,999

Gilbert, AZ is about 5% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Gilbert, AZ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Gilbert, AZ by 112%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.24 $22.24

$20.71 $20.71

7.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$89.2 $89.2

-16.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.68 $11.68

$13.19 $13.19

-11.45%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$5.66 $5.66

-12.01%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$2.64 $2.64

11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.28 $2.28

-21.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.87 $6.87

-11.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.08 $6.08

$8.84 $8.84

-31.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.25 $1.25

-36.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.72 $3.72

20.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.07 $7.07

$5.39 $5.39

31.17%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$4.74 $4.74

-20.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.51 $9.51

$13.84 $13.84

-31.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$14.40 $14.40

-23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$18.38 $18.38

-28.07%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$5.22 $5.22

14.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.98 $1.98

27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.06 $4.06

2.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.97 $4.97

-4.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.67 $2.67

2.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.66 $2.66

-31.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.24 $2.24

-12.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.13 $3.13

5.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.38 $10.38

$13.82 $13.82

-24.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.52 $18.52

$14.88 $14.88

24.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.54 $2.54

-16.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.51 $3.51

-8.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.43 $2.43

-59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.39 $31.39

$73.5 $73.5

-57.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.18 $3.18

-5.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.39 $1.39

0.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.65 $33.65

$25.03 $25.03

34.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 $1.20

-17.50%

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

$40.2K $40.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

14.78%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

35.99%

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

$179 $179

$194 $194

-7.77%

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

$120 $120

$69.5 $69.5

72.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$61.6 $61.6

6.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.9 $59.9

$47.90 $47.90

25.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 $11.84

$17.81 $17.81

-33.52%

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

$712 $712

$1,794 $1,794

-60.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K $16.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-47.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$67.0 $67.0

-24.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 $44.43

$52.1 $52.1

-14.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 $91.2

$102 $102

-10.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$144 $144

12.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,721 $1,721

$2,526 $2,526

-31.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 $1,486

$1,578 $1,578

-5.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,846 $2,846

$4,738 $4,738

-39.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$2,693 $2,693

-13.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,299 $5,299

$4,190 $4,190

26.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,560 $4,560

$2,768 $2,768

64.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,387 $5,387

$4,931 $4,931

9.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.81

-3.23%

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

Last update for Gilbert, AZ: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Gilbert, AZ

$1.5K 51.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 6.2% $92

Groceries & Markets

Gilbert, AZ

$419 14.5%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 6.9% $29

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Gilbert, AZ

$365 12.6%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 10.8% $39

Eating Out

Gilbert, AZ

$334 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 3.2% $11

Clothing & Footwear

Gilbert, AZ

$157 5.4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 4.6% $7.2

Sport & Entertainment

Gilbert, AZ

$84 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 0.1% $0.1

Getting Around

Gilbert, AZ

$45 1.6%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 106% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,721 in Gilbert, AZ versus $2,526 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 9% higher in Gilbert, AZ, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Gilbert, AZ versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $447 – making Gilbert, AZ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Gilbert, AZ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

21:51 9:51 PM

22:51 10:51 PM

1 h ahead of Gilbert, AZ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

208,453

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Gilbert, AZ Chicago, IL 2,320 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Gilbert, AZ
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Gilbert, AZ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,890 in Gilbert, AZ, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Gilbert, AZ comes out roughly 5% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,335 per month in Gilbert, AZ and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gilbert, AZ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,721 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Gilbert, AZ and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,890 in Gilbert, AZ and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Gilbert, AZ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Gilbert, AZ is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 5% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.