Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Laurel, MD is 2.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Laurel, MD is 8.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.15 $12.15
$20.82 $20.82
-41.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.07 $49.07
$100 $100
-51.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 $10.02
$11.97 $11.97
-16.29%
Cappuccino
$4.87 $4.87
$5.56 $5.56
-12.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.11 $3.11
-36.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.42 $2.42
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.44 $6.44
$6.86 $6.86
-6.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.9 $7.9
$8.45 $8.45
-6.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.04 $1.04
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.15 $4.15
-12.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.23 $7.23
$5.52 $5.52
30.98%
Eggs
$3.94 $3.94
$4.65 $4.65
-15.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.28 $19.28
$14.33 $14.33
34.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.38 $20.38
$14.88 $14.88
36.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.26 $13.26
$19.34 $19.34
-31.44%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$5.17 $5.17
17.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.71 $1.71
72.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.04 $8.04
$4.41 $4.41
82.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$10.83 $10.83
$4.51 $4.51
140.13%
Potato (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.53 $2.53
92.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.74 $2.74
-21.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.43 $2.43
13.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.7 $2.7
14.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.08 $8.08
$15.19 $15.19
-46.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.44 $16.44
$16.42 $16.42
0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.7 $3.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.34 $3.34
37.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.36 $29.36
$25.42 $25.42
15.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-18.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 $162
$188 $188
-14.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52 $52
$63.7 $63.7
-18.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.7 $65.7
$65.2 $65.2
0.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.35 $42.35
$76.7 $76.7
-44.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 $13.11
$14.93 $14.93
-12.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,841 $1,841
$2,063 $2,063
-10.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.62 $38.62
$64.3 $64.3
-39.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.58 $29.58
$52.4 $52.4
-43.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$95.2 $95.2
-7.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$145 $145
-18.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,578 $1,578
$2,378 $2,378
-33.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 $1,361
$1,584 $1,584
-14.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,570 $2,570
$4,763 $4,763
-46.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,993 $2,993
$2,815 $2,815
6.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,271 $2,271
$3,588 $3,588
-36.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,524 $2,524
$2,490 $2,490
1.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laurel, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,359 $5,359
$5,275 $5,275
1.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Laurel, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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