Cost of Living Comparison Between Hartford, CT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Hartford, CT and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Hartford, CT is 0.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Hartford, CT is 5.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.47 $25.47

$20.82 $20.82

22.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$100 $100

1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 $12.12

$11.97 $11.97

1.25%

Cappuccino

$4.2 $4.2

$5.56 $5.56

-24.46%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$3.11 $3.11

-13.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.42 $2.42

-15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 $6.63

$6.86 $6.86

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.45 $8.45

-4.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.04 $1.04

18.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.15 $4.15

4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.52 $5.52

-5.62%

Eggs

$4.61 $4.61

$4.65 $4.65

-0.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 $17.69

$14.33 $14.33

23.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.88 $12.88

$14.88 $14.88

-13.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$19.34 $19.34

-25.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.17 $5.17

34.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.71 $1.71

8.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.41 $4.41

30.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$4.51 $4.51

31.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.53 $2.53

28.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.74 $2.74

28.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.43 $2.43

0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.7 $2.7

-18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.26 $14.26

$15.19 $15.19

-6.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$16.42 $16.42

-9.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.7 $3.7

-33.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.53 $2.53

-51.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.1 $5.1

$3.34 $3.34

52.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.42 $1.42

42.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.42 $42.42

$25.42 $25.42

66.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-12.69%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.87%

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

$181 $181

$188 $188

-3.88%

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

$52.3 $52.3

$63.7 $63.7

-17.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 $62.8

$65.2 $65.2

-3.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.37 $49.37

$76.7 $76.7

-35.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.28 $30.28

$13.03 $13.03

132.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.86 $12.86

$14.93 $14.93

-13.86%

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

$1,285 $1,285

$2,063 $2,063

-37.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.3K $33.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-15.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 $61.8

$64.3 $64.3

-3.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.28 $38.28

$52.4 $52.4

-26.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.3 $55.3

$95.2 $95.2

-41.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$145 $145

1.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,073 $2,073

$2,378 $2,378

-12.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 $1,206

$1,584 $1,584

-23.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,319 $3,319

$4,763 $4,763

-30.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,038 $2,038

$2,815 $2,815

-27.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,714 $2,714

$3,588 $3,588

-24.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,232 $2,232

$2,490 $2,490

-10.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,051 $3,051

$5,275 $5,275

-42.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.6

-3.33%

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

Last update for Hartford, CT: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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