Cost of Living Comparison Between Lancaster, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lancaster, PA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Lancaster, PA is 11.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lancaster, PA is 11.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.61 $24.61

$20.82 $20.82

18.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.2 $64.2

$100 $100

-36.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.84 $9.84

$11.97 $11.97

-17.79%

Cappuccino

$5.14 $5.14

$5.56 $5.56

-7.55%

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

$2.36 $2.36

$3.11 $3.11

-24.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.42 $2.42

-21.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.05 $4.05

$6.86 $6.86

-40.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 $7.14

$8.45 $8.45

-15.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.04 $1.04

10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.15 $4.15

-24.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.52 $5.52

-37.86%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$4.65 $4.65

-13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$14.33 $14.33

-11.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 $9.27

$14.88 $14.88

-37.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 $13.54

$19.34 $19.34

-29.99%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.17 $5.17

16.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.71 $1.71

-17.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.41 $4.41

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.51 $4.51

28.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.53 $2.53

-13.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.74 $2.74

-13.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.43 $2.43

-2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.7 $2.7

-21.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.22 $10.22

$15.19 $15.19

-32.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 $13.24

$16.42 $16.42

-19.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.35 $2.35

-17.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.7 $3.7

30.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.53 $2.53

-34.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.24 $42.24

$74.1 $74.1

-43.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.34 $3.34

-15.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$25.42 $25.42

-3.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-16.09%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.57%

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

$128 $128

$188 $188

-32.13%

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

$43.26 $43.26

$63.7 $63.7

-32.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 $71.4

$65.2 $65.2

9.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 $54.6

$76.7 $76.7

-28.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.36 $45.36

$13.03 $13.03

248.12%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$14.93 $14.93

8.64%

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

$797 $797

$2,063 $2,063

-61.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.4K $36.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-7.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 $56.8

$64.3 $64.3

-11.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 $53.6

$52.4 $52.4

2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 $93.3

$95.2 $95.2

-2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$145 $145

-27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 $1,296

$2,378 $2,378

-45.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 $1,074

$1,584 $1,584

-32.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$4,763 $4,763

-60.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,754 $1,754

$2,815 $2,815

-37.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 $2,430

$3,588 $3,588

-32.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,511 $2,511

$2,490 $2,490

0.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,920 $3,920

$5,275 $5,275

-25.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.6

-3.03%

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

Last update for Lancaster, PA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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