Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Long Island, NY is 3.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Long Island, NY is 9.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.99 $19.99
$20.10 $20.10
-0.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.6 $98.6
$102 $102
-3.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.58 $13.58
$12.02 $12.02
12.98%
Cappuccino
$4.86 $4.86
$5.62 $5.62
-13.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.01 $3.01
-19.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.94 $6.94
$6.98 $6.98
-0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78 $7.78
$8.45 $8.45
-7.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.09 $1.09
9.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.70 $3.70
$4.12 $4.12
-10.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$5.57 $5.57
-11.85%
Eggs
$4.91 $4.91
$4.51 $4.51
8.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.76 $17.76
$14.42 $14.42
23.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 $11.78
$15.02 $15.02
-21.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.49 $15.49
$18.98 $18.98
-18.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$5.20 $5.20
-6.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.78 $1.78
-3.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.34 $4.34
-7.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$4.53 $4.53
-7.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.55 $2.55
8.63%
Onion (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.71 $2.71
39.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.49 $2.49
-10.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.63 $2.63
-15.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.94 $11.94
$15.12 $15.12
-21.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$14.91 $14.91
1.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.47 $2.47
-28.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.66 $3.66
10.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.57 $2.57
14.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$128 $128
$74.3 $74.3
72.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.30 $3.30
-11.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.37 $1.37
46.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.90 $23.90
$24.96 $24.96
-4.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.06 $1.06
-12.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$31.4K $31.4K
-24.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 $126
$187 $187
-32.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.43 $44.43
$63.0 $63.0
-29.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$65.8 $65.8
-7.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.55 $34.55
$75.2 $75.2
-54.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.95 $12.95
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.09 $13.09
$15.13 $15.13
-13.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,254 $2,254
$2,067 $2,067
9.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$38.8K $38.8K
-39.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.44 $40.44
$64.0 $64.0
-36.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.9 $63.9
$50.8 $50.8
25.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.7 $73.7
$97.3 $97.3
-24.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$144 $144
-9.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,315 $2,315
$2,338 $2,338
-0.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,249 $2,249
$1,614 $1,614
39.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,137 $4,137
$4,764 $4,764
-13.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,486 $3,486
$2,762 $2,762
26.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,382 $4,382
$3,766 $3,766
16.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 $4,273
$2,614 $2,614
63.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
$5,006 $5,006
3.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%

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

Last update for Long Island, NY: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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