Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Hagerstown, MD: $2,498 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

121

Cost of Living Index in Hagerstown, MD
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Hagerstown, MD Living Index
152

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

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Hagerstown, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,498

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hagerstown, MD 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 Hagerstown, MD and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,498 per month in Hagerstown, MD vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hagerstown, MD $2,498
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,658 per month in Hagerstown, MD vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hagerstown, MD $3,658
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,819 per month in Hagerstown, MD vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hagerstown, MD $4,819
Chicago, IL $6,115

Hagerstown, MD is about 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hagerstown, MD and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hagerstown, MD by 84%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 $14.81

$20.65 $20.65

-28.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$90.2 $90.2

-16.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$12.94 $12.94

-14.76%

Cappuccino

$6.01 $6.01

$5.60 $5.60

7.32%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$2.64 $2.64

-18.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.27 $2.27

3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 $6.65

$6.98 $6.98

-4.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 $8.68

$8.83 $8.83

-1.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.27 $1.27

-33.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.80 $3.80

2.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.30 $5.30

-15.85%

Eggs

$3.70 $3.70

$4.76 $4.76

-22.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.15 $7.15

$13.96 $13.96

-48.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$14.61 $14.61

-7.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.92 $22.92

$18.77 $18.77

22.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.19 $5.19

-14.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.98 $1.98

-43.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.93 $3.93

1.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$4.96 $4.96

-46.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.76 $2.76

-12.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.76 $2.76

40.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.22 $2.22

3.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.98 $2.98

-17.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.68 $9.68

$14.02 $14.02

-30.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$15.28 $15.28

-2.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.58 $2.58

6.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.50 $3.50

-18.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 $58.9

$74.8 $74.8

-21.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.34 $3.34

20.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.43 $1.43

-16.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.32 $24.32

4.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.26 $1.26

-30.95%

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

$28.6K $28.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-18.27%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

-7.19%

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

$163 $163

$193 $193

-15.37%

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

$50.7 $50.7

$68.3 $68.3

-25.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 $62.8

$61.3 $61.3

2.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 $50.9

$54.1 $54.1

-5.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.64 $17.64

$27.92 $27.92

-36.82%

Cinema Ticket

$10.11 $10.11

$17.74 $17.74

-43.01%

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

$1,622 $1,622

$1,652 $1,652

-1.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K $10.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

-67.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 $54.4

$66.1 $66.1

-17.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.76 $19.76

$51.2 $51.2

-61.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 $96.4

$100 $100

-3.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 $161

$141 $141

14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 $1,390

$2,446 $2,446

-43.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 $1,240

$1,678 $1,678

-26.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 $1,941

$4,717 $4,717

-58.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,991 $1,991

$2,795 $2,795

-28.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,990 $1,990

$4,105 $4,105

-51.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,014 $2,014

$2,650 $2,650

-24.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,353 $5,353

$4,866 $4,866

10.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.81

-4.70%

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

Last update for Hagerstown, MD: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Hagerstown, MD

$1.2K 49.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 35.2% $437

Groceries & Markets

Hagerstown, MD

$399 16%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 12.7% $51

Eating Out

Hagerstown, MD

$292 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 17.5% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hagerstown, MD

$277 11.1%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 16.5% $46

Clothing & Footwear

Hagerstown, MD

$149 6%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 7.9% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Hagerstown, MD

$71 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 25.9% $18

Getting Around

Hagerstown, MD

$69 * 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 37.9% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,390 in Hagerstown, MD versus $2,446 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 10% higher in Hagerstown, MD, 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 $76.0 in Hagerstown, MD versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $449 – making Hagerstown, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hagerstown, MD

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

06:51 6:51 AM

05:51 5:51 AM

1 h behind Hagerstown, MD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

39,008

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Hagerstown, MD Chicago, IL 870 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Hagerstown, MD
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

Hagerstown, MD vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,498 in Hagerstown, MD, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 26% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,747 per month in Hagerstown, MD and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hagerstown, MD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Hagerstown, MD and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hagerstown, MD, where all-in costs run around $2,498, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Hagerstown, MD it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,498 in Hagerstown, MD to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Hagerstown, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.