Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in La Plata, MD: $2,441 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

117

Cost of Living Index in La Plata, MD
Learn more

La Plata, MD Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

La Plata, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,441

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,441 per month in La Plata, MD vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

La Plata, MD $2,441
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,635 per month in La Plata, MD vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

La Plata, MD $3,635
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,829 per month in La Plata, MD vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

La Plata, MD $4,829
Chicago, IL $5,999

La Plata, MD is about 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both La Plata, MD and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – La Plata, MD by 79%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.52 $13.52

$20.71 $20.71

-34.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.4 $90.4

$89.2 $89.2

1.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 $7.62

$13.19 $13.19

-42.23%

Cappuccino

$6.29 $6.29

$5.66 $5.66

11.13%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$2.64 $2.64

6.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.28 $2.28

12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.46 $3.46

$6.87 $6.87

-49.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$8.84 $8.84

-43.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.25 $1.25

34.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.72 $3.72

18.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$5.39 $5.39

15.58%

Eggs

$1.81 $1.81

$4.74 $4.74

-61.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.70 $12.70

$13.84 $13.84

-8.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.81 $8.81

$14.40 $14.40

-38.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$18.38 $18.38

-28.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.22 $5.22

-6.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.98 $1.98

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$4.06 $4.06

55.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$4.97 $4.97

-10.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.67 $2.67

13.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.66 $2.66

-21.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.24 $2.24

-6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.13 $3.13

-13.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.85 $11.85

$13.82 $13.82

-14.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 $14.37

$14.88 $14.88

-3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.54 $2.54

-33.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.51 $3.51

45.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.43 $2.43

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.1 $58.1

$73.5 $73.5

-20.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.18 $3.18

-14.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.39 $1.39

20.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$25.03 $25.03

18.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 $1.20

-15.00%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-6.99%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

14.50%

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

$97.8 $97.8

$194 $194

-49.68%

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

$42.02 $42.02

$69.5 $69.5

-39.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$61.6 $61.6

19.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.39 $40.39

$47.90 $47.90

-15.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$17.81 $17.81

-14.99%

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

$1,210 $1,210

$1,794 $1,794

-32.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

-28.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 $47.79

$67.0 $67.0

-28.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.43 $36.43

$52.1 $52.1

-30.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$102 $102

10.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$144 $144

-16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$2,526 $2,526

-37.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 $1,284

$1,578 $1,578

-18.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,492 $2,492

$4,738 $4,738

-47.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 $2,098

$2,693 $2,693

-22.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,038 $3,038

$4,190 $4,190

-27.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,428 $2,428

$2,768 $2,768

-12.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,502 $6,502

$4,931 $4,931

31.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.81

-8.22%

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

Last update for La Plata, MD: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

La Plata, MD

$1.3K 52.6%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 22.9% $294

Groceries & Markets

La Plata, MD

$398 16.3%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 12.3% $49

Eating Out

La Plata, MD

$255 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 35.2% $90

Monthly Utilities & Internet

La Plata, MD

$213 8.7%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 52.6% $112

Clothing & Footwear

La Plata, MD

$143 5.8%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 15% $21

Getting Around

La Plata, MD

$77 3.2%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 21.3% $16

Sport & Entertainment

La Plata, MD

$71 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 18.2% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in La Plata, MD 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.

Salaries run about 32% higher in La Plata, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in La Plata, MD versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in La Plata, MD vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so La Plata, MD wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 La Plata, MD

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

16:35 4:35 PM

15:35 3:35 PM

1 h behind La Plata, MD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

10,000

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

La Plata, MD Chicago, IL 980 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

La Plata, MD
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

La Plata, MD vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,441 in La Plata, MD, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – La Plata, MD comes out roughly 20% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,661 per month in La Plata, MD and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Plata, MD, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,575 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 21% less in La Plata, MD. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward La Plata, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.