Cost of Living Comparison Between Harrisburg, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Harrisburg, PA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Harrisburg, PA is 14.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Harrisburg, PA is 11.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.89 $14.89
$20.82 $20.82
-28.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 $64.2
$100 $100
-35.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.13 $12.13
$11.97 $11.97
1.34%
Cappuccino
$5.17 $5.17
$5.56 $5.56
-7.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.11 $3.11
-3.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.42 $2.42
-9.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$6.86 $6.86
-11.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$8.45 $8.45
-4.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.04 $1.04
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$4 $4
$4.15 $4.15
-3.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$5.52 $5.52
-30.62%
Eggs
$4.37 $4.37
$4.65 $4.65
-6.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.96 $14.96
$14.33 $14.33
4.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.3 $14.3
$14.88 $14.88
-3.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.02 $19.02
$19.34 $19.34
-1.65%
Apples (1kg)
$6.02 $6.02
$5.17 $5.17
16.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2 $2
$1.71 $1.71
16.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$4.41 $4.41
15.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.66 $6.66
$4.51 $4.51
47.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.53 $2.53
39.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.74 $2.74
39.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.43 $2.43
-7.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.7 $2.7
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9 $9
$15.19 $15.19
-40.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$16.42 $16.42
-8.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.35 $2.35
8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 $4.56
$3.7 $3.7
23.24%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.53 $2.53
1.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.5 $50.5
$74.1 $74.1
-31.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.34 $3.34
20.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.42 $1.42
30.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.95 $29.95
$25.42 $25.42
17.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-18.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.16%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$188 $188
-14.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.1 $60.1
$63.7 $63.7
-5.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$65.2 $65.2
2.82%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.36 $27.36
$76.7 $76.7
-64.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.12 $20.12
$13.03 $13.03
54.41%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82 $10.82
$14.93 $14.93
-27.53%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,097 $1,097
$2,063 $2,063
-46.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K $20.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-47.37%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.28 $39.28
$64.3 $64.3
-38.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.78 $32.78
$52.4 $52.4
-37.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.1 $78.1
$95.2 $95.2
-17.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.8 $81.8
$145 $145
-43.44%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 $1,553
$2,378 $2,378
-34.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,363 $1,363
$1,584 $1,584
-13.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,914 $1,914
$4,763 $4,763
-59.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$2,815 $2,815
-26.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,732 $1,732
$3,588 $3,588
-51.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,837 $1,837
$2,490 $2,490
-26.24%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Harrisburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,211 $4,211
$5,275 $5,275
-20.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Harrisburg, PA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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