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

🙂 Solo nomad: Ithaca, NY is 18.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ithaca, NY is 11.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.81 $19.81

$20.82 $20.82

-4.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.6 $69.6

$100 $100

-30.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.8 $10.8

$11.97 $11.97

-9.77%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$5.56 $5.56

-8.63%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$3.11 $3.11

-12.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.42 $2.42

-17.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.86 $6.86

-25.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.18 $6.18

$8.45 $8.45

-26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.04 $1.04

-5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.15 $4.15

-3.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.52 $5.52

-2.54%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$4.65 $4.65

-12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$14.33 $14.33

-2.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$14.88 $14.88

-55.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$19.34 $19.34

-20.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.6 $4.6

$5.17 $5.17

-11.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.41 $4.41

5.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.51 $4.51

9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$2.53 $2.53

170.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.74 $2.74

24.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.43 $2.43

13.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.7 $2.7

-32.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$15.19 $15.19

-42.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$16.42 $16.42

-27.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.8 $1.8

$2.35 $2.35

-23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.7 $3.7

6.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.53 $2.53

-39.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.3 $44.3

$74.1 $74.1

-40.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.34 $3.34

54.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.42 $1.42

-4.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.35 $27.35

$25.42 $25.42

7.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.47%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.18%

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

$135 $135

$188 $188

-28.28%

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

$47.69 $47.69

$63.7 $63.7

-25.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.6 $64.6

$65.2 $65.2

-0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.37 $42.37

$76.7 $76.7

-44.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$10.95 $10.95

$14.93 $14.93

-26.66%

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

$1,538 $1,538

$2,063 $2,063

-25.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-27.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.85 $43.85

$64.3 $64.3

-31.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.98 $39.98

$52.4 $52.4

-23.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 $80.5

$95.2 $95.2

-15.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$145 $145

-30.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$2,378 $2,378

-31.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 $1,048

$1,584 $1,584

-33.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 $2,598

$4,763 $4,763

-45.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 $1,900

$2,815 $2,815

-32.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,079 $2,079

$3,588 $3,588

-42.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,920 $1,920

$2,490 $2,490

-22.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,970 $2,970

$5,275 $5,275

-43.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

6.6

-4.85%

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

Last update for Ithaca, NY: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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