Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Harrisburg, PA: $2,495 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 Harrisburg, PA
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Harrisburg, PA Living Index
152

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

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Harrisburg, PA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,495

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,495 per month in Harrisburg, PA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Harrisburg, PA $2,495
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,624 per month in Harrisburg, PA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Harrisburg, PA $3,624
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,752 per month in Harrisburg, PA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Harrisburg, PA $4,752
Chicago, IL $6,115

Harrisburg, PA is about 21% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.34 $13.34

$20.65 $20.65

-35.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 $66.1

$90.2 $90.2

-26.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.67 $10.67

$12.94 $12.94

-17.54%

Cappuccino

$5.14 $5.14

$5.60 $5.60

-8.21%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.64 $2.64

4.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.27 $2.27

1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 $5.13

$6.98 $6.98

-26.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$8.83 $8.83

-18.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.27 $1.27

1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.80 $3.80

4.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$5.30 $5.30

-52.64%

Eggs

$6.41 $6.41

$4.76 $4.76

34.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.93 $14.93

$13.96 $13.96

6.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.44 $14.44

$14.61 $14.61

-1.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.78 $18.78

$18.77 $18.77

0.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.19 $5.19

-15.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.98 $1.98

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$3.93 $3.93

41.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$4.96 $4.96

6.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.76 $2.76

10.87%

Onion (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.76 $2.76

48.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.22 $2.22

-3.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.98 $2.98

-9.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.81 $11.81

$14.02 $14.02

-15.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.28 $15.28

-1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.58 $2.58

-2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.50 $3.50

46.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.47 $2.47

0.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.42 $49.42

$74.8 $74.8

-33.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 $6.62

$3.34 $3.34

98.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.43 $1.43

35.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.47 $39.47

$24.32 $24.32

62.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.26 $1.26

-13.49%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-21.67%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

4.66%

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

$160 $160

$193 $193

-16.87%

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

$43.79 $43.79

$68.3 $68.3

-35.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$61.3 $61.3

18.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.57 $27.57

$54.1 $54.1

-49.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.01 $20.01

$27.92 $27.92

-28.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 $11.17

$17.74 $17.74

-37.03%

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

$1,119 $1,119

$1,652 $1,652

-32.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K $20.7K

$31.1K $31.1K

-33.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.56 $40.56

$66.1 $66.1

-38.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.10 $32.10

$51.2 $51.2

-37.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 $79.0

$100 $100

-21.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$141 $141

-28.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,436 $1,436

$2,446 $2,446

-41.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,266 $1,266

$1,678 $1,678

-24.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,072 $2,072

$4,717 $4,717

-56.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,006 $2,006

$2,795 $2,795

-28.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,884 $1,884

$4,105 $4,105

-54.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,803 $1,803

$2,650 $2,650

-31.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,176 $4,176

$4,866 $4,866

-14.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.29

6.81

-7.64%

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

Last update for Harrisburg, PA: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Harrisburg, PA

$1.3K 50.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 32.5% $412

Groceries & Markets

Harrisburg, PA

$453 18.2%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 0.9% $4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Harrisburg, PA

$276 11.1%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 16.6% $46

Eating Out

Harrisburg, PA

$261 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 31.7% $83

Clothing & Footwear

Harrisburg, PA

$113 4.5%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 42.3% $48

Getting Around

Harrisburg, PA

$76 3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 25.7% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Harrisburg, PA

$50 2%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 79.5% $40

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,436 in Harrisburg, PA 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 17% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Harrisburg, PA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $453 in Harrisburg, PA vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Harrisburg, PA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

21:50 9:50 PM

20:50 8:50 PM

1 h behind Harrisburg, PA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

49,528

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

Harrisburg, PA Chicago, IL 920 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Harrisburg, PA
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

Harrisburg, PA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,495 in Harrisburg, PA, $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 $3,743 per month in Harrisburg, PA 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 Harrisburg, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Harrisburg, PA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,495 in Harrisburg, PA and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,495 in Harrisburg, PA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Harrisburg, PA. 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.