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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Lakewood, WA is 20.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Lakewood, WA is 3.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.69 $22.69
$20.82 $20.82
8.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$100 $100
17.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.59 $12.59
$11.97 $11.97
5.18%
Cappuccino
$6.3 $6.3
$5.56 $5.56
13.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.11 $3.11
65.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.42 $2.42
1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.95 $8.95
$6.86 $6.86
30.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.91 $11.91
$8.45 $8.45
40.95%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.04 $1.04
0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.3 $1.3
$4.15 $4.15
-68.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$5.52 $5.52
-49.82%
Eggs
$5.14 $5.14
$4.65 $4.65
10.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.03 $11.03
$14.33 $14.33
-23.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.53 $15.53
$14.88 $14.88
4.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 $15.53
$19.34 $19.34
-19.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.07 $5.07
$5.17 $5.17
-1.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.71 $1.71
-12.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$4.41 $4.41
-35.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.63 $3.63
$4.51 $4.51
-19.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.74 $2.74
-30.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.43 $2.43
4.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.7 $2.7
8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.06 $9.06
$15.19 $15.19
-40.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.03 $12.03
$16.42 $16.42
-26.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.35 $2.35
-12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.7 $3.7
-10.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.34 $3.34
-24.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.04 $29.04
$25.42 $25.42
14.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.08 $1.08
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K $23.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K $20.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-23.36%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.9 $84.9
$188 $188
-54.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$63.7 $63.7
-19.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54 $54
$65.2 $65.2
-17.12%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.23 $43.23
$76.7 $76.7
-43.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$14.93 $14.93
-8.64%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,119 $2,119
$2,063 $2,063
2.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-22.24%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.3 $27.3
$64.3 $64.3
-57.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.82 $36.82
$52.4 $52.4
-29.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 $84.5
$95.2 $95.2
-11.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3 $76.3
$145 $145
-47.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 $1,588
$2,378 $2,378
-33.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 $1,352
$1,584 $1,584
-14.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,326 $2,326
$4,763 $4,763
-51.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,246 $2,246
$2,815 $2,815
-20.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,787 $2,787
$3,588 $3,588
-22.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,794 $2,794
$2,490 $2,490
12.21%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lakewood, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,707 $4,707
$5,275 $5,275
-10.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

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

Last update for Lakewood, WA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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