Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilton, NY and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Hilton, NY: $2,744 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hilton, NY, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Hilton, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,744
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,744 per month in Hilton, NY vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hilton, NY $2,744
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,925 per month in Hilton, NY vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hilton, NY $3,925
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,106 per month in Hilton, NY vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hilton, NY $5,106
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Hilton, NY is about 10% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hilton, NY and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hilton, NY by 102%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.57 $20.57
$20.71 $20.71
-0.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.9 $65.9
$89.2 $89.2
-26.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.04 $13.04
$13.19 $13.19
-1.14%
Cappuccino
$5.71 $5.71
$5.66 $5.66
0.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.64 $2.64
0.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.28 $2.28
-19.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.55 $5.55
$6.87 $6.87
-19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 $7.29
$8.84 $8.84
-17.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.25 $1.25
-16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 $3.80
$3.72 $3.72
2.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$5.39 $5.39
-29.87%
Eggs
$4.68 $4.68
$4.74 $4.74
-1.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.85 $12.85
$13.84 $13.84
-7.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.45 $12.45
$14.40 $14.40
-13.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.80 $16.80
$18.38 $18.38
-8.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$5.22 $5.22
-10.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.98 $1.98
-29.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.06 $4.06
8.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$4.97 $4.97
-5.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.67 $2.67
-1.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.66 $2.66
6.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.24 $2.24
-4.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.13 $3.13
-18.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49 $11.49
$13.82 $13.82
-16.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.88 $12.88
$14.88 $14.88
-13.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.54 $2.54
-12.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.51 $3.51
-7.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.43 $2.43
-22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.2 $61.2
$73.5 $73.5
-16.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.18 $3.18
5.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.39 $1.39
43.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.17 $27.17
$25.03 $25.03
8.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.20 $1.20
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$35.0K $35.0K
-19.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$26.7K $26.7K
10.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 $208
$194 $194
6.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$69.5 $69.5
-17.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3 $64.3
$61.6 $61.6
4.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 $44.88
$47.90 $47.90
-6.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.51 $15.51
$17.81 $17.81
-12.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$1,794 $1,794
-20.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.0K $25.0K
$31.9K $31.9K
-21.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 $59.9
$67.0 $67.0
-10.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.18 $44.18
$52.1 $52.1
-15.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 $98.4
$102 $102
-3.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$144 $144
-12.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 $1,577
$2,526 $2,526
-37.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 $1,375
$1,578 $1,578
-12.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 $2,308
$4,738 $4,738
-51.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,146 $2,146
$2,693 $2,693
-20.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,960 $2,960
$4,190 $4,190
-29.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,602 $2,602
$2,768 $2,768
-5.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,931 $4,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.81
-3.52%

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

Last update for Hilton, NY: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hilton, NY
$1.4K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 14.8% $203
Groceries & Markets
Hilton, NY
$402
Chicago, IL
$447 11.2% $45
Eating Out
Hilton, NY
$332
Chicago, IL
$345 3.8% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilton, NY
$329
Chicago, IL
$326 1.1% $3.7
Clothing & Footwear
Hilton, NY
$148
Chicago, IL
$164 11.1% $16
Getting Around
Hilton, NY
$82
Chicago, IL
$93 13.8% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Hilton, NY
$76
Chicago, IL
$84 10.1% $7.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,577 in Hilton, NY 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66 in Hilton, NY versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $447 – making Hilton, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hilton, NY
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
00:06 12:06 AM
23:06 11:06 PM
1 h behind Hilton, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,000
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hilton, NY Chicago, IL 820 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hilton, NY
  • 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
Hilton, NY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hilton, NY and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,744 in Hilton, NY, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Hilton, NY comes out roughly 10% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Hilton, NY compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,116 per month in Hilton, NY and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hilton, NY and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hilton, NY, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,577 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66 in Hilton, NY and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,744 in Hilton, NY and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Hilton, NY or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward Hilton, NY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Hilton, NY or Chicago, IL?
For expats, Hilton, NY is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 10% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Hilton, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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