Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ketchikan, AK and Chicago, IL

For one person, living costs are similar in Ketchikan, AK and in Chicago, IL: $3,104 and $3,072 a month, rent and utilities included.

149

Cost of Living Index in Ketchikan, AK
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Ketchikan, AK Living Index
146

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

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Ketchikan, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$3,104

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,104 per month in Ketchikan, AK vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Ketchikan, AK $3,104
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $4,242 per month in Ketchikan, AK vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Ketchikan, AK $4,242
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,380 per month in Ketchikan, AK vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Ketchikan, AK $5,380
Chicago, IL $6,019

Ketchikan, AK and Chicago, IL have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Ketchikan, AK and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Ketchikan, AK by 130%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.76 $27.76

$20.39 $20.39

36.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.4 $82.4

$88.6 $88.6

-6.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$12.85 $12.85

-10.74%

Cappuccino

$5.09 $5.09

$5.78 $5.78

-11.94%

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

$2.71 $2.71

$2.74 $2.74

-1.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.26 $2.26

-10.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.88 $6.88

10.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.39 $7.39

$9.24 $9.24

-20.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.26 $1.26

38.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$5.38 $5.38

-20.63%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.55 $4.55

-5.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.61 $12.61

$13.65 $13.65

-7.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.70 $11.70

$14.07 $14.07

-16.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.35 $17.35

$18.06 $18.06

-3.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.16 $5.16

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.98 $1.98

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.88 $3.88

12.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.83 $4.83

-0.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.81 $2.81

-3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.67 $2.67

26.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.07 $2.07

5.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.03 $3.03

-19.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 $9.87

$13.90 $13.90

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.05 $15.05

-1.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.63 $2.63

-15.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.45 $3.45

5.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.43 $2.43

-18.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.1 $59.1

$75.3 $75.3

-21.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.17 $3.17

23.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.70 $1.70

-8.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.88 $28.88

$24.90 $24.90

15.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.28 $1.28

-6.25%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$35.8K $35.8K

-17.07%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.31%

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

$200 $200

$192 $192

3.93%

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

$57.5 $57.5

$69.6 $69.6

-17.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$135 $135

$62.2 $62.2

117.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.43 $40.43

$47.79 $47.79

-15.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 $17.98

$17.83 $17.83

0.84%

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

$1,219 $1,219

$1,815 $1,815

-32.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K $19.5K

$40.6K $40.6K

-52.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 $57.1

$66.2 $66.2

-13.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.71 $43.71

$51.4 $51.4

-14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 $82.9

$103 $103

-19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$143 $143

-15.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 $1,781

$2,531 $2,531

-29.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,618 $1,618

$1,621 $1,621

-0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,366 $2,366

$4,828 $4,828

-50.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 $2,156

$2,734 $2,734

-21.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$4,163 $4,163

-20.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,412 $3,412

$2,723 $2,723

25.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,559 $4,559

$4,924 $4,924

-7.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.78

-2.80%

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

Last update for Ketchikan, AK: November 3, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Ketchikan, AK

$1.6K 52.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 0.2% $3.5

Groceries & Markets

Ketchikan, AK

$413 13.3%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 6.4% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ketchikan, AK

$392 12.6%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 17.4% $68

Eating Out

Ketchikan, AK

$389 12.5%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 11.6% $45

Clothing & Footwear

Ketchikan, AK

$137 4.4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 19.5% $27

Getting Around

Ketchikan, AK

$79 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 22.8% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Ketchikan, AK

$76 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 9.2% $7.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,781 in Ketchikan, AK versus $2,531 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 8% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82 in Ketchikan, AK versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $439 – making Ketchikan, AK the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Ketchikan, AK

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

08:27 8:27 AM

11:27 11:27 AM

3 h ahead of Ketchikan, AK

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,200

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Ketchikan, AK Chicago, IL 3,490 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Ketchikan, AK
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

Ketchikan, AK vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,655 per month in Ketchikan, AK and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ketchikan, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,781 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82 in Ketchikan, AK and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Ketchikan, AK. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,104 in Ketchikan, AK and $3,072 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL to $3,104 in Ketchikan, AK. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.