Cost of Living Comparison Between Issaquah, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Issaquah, WA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Issaquah, WA is 14.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Issaquah, WA is 7.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.52 $24.52
$20.82 $20.82
17.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6 $94.6
$100 $100
-5.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$11.97 $11.97
0.75%
Cappuccino
$5.86 $5.86
$5.56 $5.56
5.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 $3.24
$3.11 $3.11
4.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.42 $2.42
-0.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$6.86 $6.86
0.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.48 $7.48
$8.45 $8.45
-11.48%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.04 $1.04
30.77%
White Bread (500g)
$4.91 $4.91
$4.15 $4.15
18.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$5.52 $5.52
-1.99%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$4.65 $4.65
-5.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 $17.48
$14.33 $14.33
21.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.21 $11.21
$14.88 $14.88
-24.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 $17.76
$19.34 $19.34
-8.17%
Apples (1kg)
$6.66 $6.66
$5.17 $5.17
28.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.71 $1.71
25.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.41 $4.41
-2.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.01 $6.01
$4.51 $4.51
33.26%
Potato (1kg)
$3 $3
$2.53 $2.53
18.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.74 $2.74
-3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.43 $2.43
13.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.7 $2.7
10.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.71 $11.71
$15.19 $15.19
-22.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.29 $16.29
$16.42 $16.42
-0.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.35 $2.35
-20.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 $4.55
$3.7 $3.7
22.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.34 $3.34
-18.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.42 $1.42
21.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.17 $30.17
$25.42 $25.42
18.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.08 $1.08
4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K $33.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
3.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.24%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$188 $188
7.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.6 $59.6
$63.7 $63.7
-6.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.6 $76.6
$65.2 $65.2
17.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.43 $43.43
$76.7 $76.7
-43.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.83 $15.83
$14.93 $14.93
6.03%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,465 $1,465
$2,063 $2,063
-28.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.3K $29.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-25.24%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 $50.8
$64.3 $64.3
-21.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52 $52
$52.4 $52.4
-0.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 $90.5
$95.2 $95.2
-4.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 $96.6
$145 $145
-33.20%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$2,378 $2,378
-8.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,517 $1,517
$1,584 $1,584
-4.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,949 $2,949
$4,763 $4,763
-38.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,477 $2,477
$2,815 $2,815
-12.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,135 $4,135
$3,588 $3,588
15.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,329 $2,329
$2,490 $2,490
-6.49%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Issaquah, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,463 $6,463
$5,275 $5,275
22.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Issaquah, WA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.