Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: La Plata, MD is 10.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: La Plata, MD is 21.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.17 $20.17
$20.82 $20.82
-3.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$100 $100
-19.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.55 $11.55
$11.97 $11.97
-3.51%
Cappuccino
$5.77 $5.77
$5.56 $5.56
3.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$3.11 $3.11
-8.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.42 $2.42
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.46 $3.46
$6.86 $6.86
-49.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.03 $5.03
$8.45 $8.45
-40.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.04 $1.04
-7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 $3.05
$4.15 $4.15
-26.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$5.52 $5.52
8.33%
Eggs
$1.81 $1.81
$4.65 $4.65
-61.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.83 $12.83
$14.33 $14.33
-10.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.68 $8.68
$14.88 $14.88
-41.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.06 $13.06
$19.34 $19.34
-32.47%
Apples (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$5.17 $5.17
-1.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.71 $1.71
1.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.36 $7.36
$4.41 $4.41
66.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.51 $4.51
-3.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.53 $2.53
41.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.74 $2.74
-2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.43 $2.43
-8.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.7 $2.7
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.67 $10.67
$15.19 $15.19
-29.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 $14.17
$16.42 $16.42
-13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.35 $2.35
15.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 $4.92
$3.7 $3.7
32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.34 $3.34
-18.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.42 $1.42
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.7 $28.7
$25.42 $25.42
12.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.08 $1.08
-30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29K $29K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.9 $97.9
$188 $188
-47.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.97 $42.97
$63.7 $63.7
-32.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6 $73.6
$65.2 $65.2
12.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.38 $43.38
$76.7 $76.7
-43.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$14.93 $14.93
-1.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,209 $1,209
$2,063 $2,063
-41.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-37.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 $54.7
$64.3 $64.3
-14.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63 $63
$52.4 $52.4
20.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$95.2 $95.2
0.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196 $196
$145 $145
35.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$2,378 $2,378
-33.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$1,584 $1,584
-13.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,614 $2,614
$4,763 $4,763
-45.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,233 $2,233
$2,815 $2,815
-20.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,596 $2,596
$3,588 $3,588
-27.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,278 $2,278
$2,490 $2,490
-8.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Plata, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,494 $6,494
$5,275 $5,275
23.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
6.6
-5.30%

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

Last update for La Plata, MD: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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