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 11.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Long Island, NY is 12.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.95 $19.95
$20.82 $20.82
-4.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.4 $13.4
$11.97 $11.97
11.95%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$5.56 $5.56
-11.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.11 $3.11
-21.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.42 $2.42
-26.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.1 $7.1
$6.86 $6.86
3.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$8.45 $8.45
-4.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.04 $1.04
14.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.15 $4.15
-11.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$5.52 $5.52
-10.69%
Eggs
$4.73 $4.73
$4.65 $4.65
1.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.87 $17.87
$14.33 $14.33
24.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.06 $12.06
$14.88 $14.88
-18.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.59 $15.59
$19.34 $19.34
-19.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$5.17 $5.17
-2.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.71 $1.71
1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.41 $4.41
-7.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$4.51 $4.51
-6.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.53 $2.53
5.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.74 $2.74
43.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.43 $2.43
-9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.7 $2.7
-17.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.89 $11.89
$15.19 $15.19
-21.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$16.42 $16.42
-8.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 $4.01
$3.7 $3.7
8.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.53 $2.53
17.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$131 $131
$74.1 $74.1
76.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.42 $1.42
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.22 $24.22
$25.42 $25.42
-4.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K $23.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.87%
🧾 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
$188 $188
-32.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.31 $44.31
$63.7 $63.7
-30.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$65.2 $65.2
-4.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.81 $33.81
$76.7 $76.7
-55.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.19 $13.19
$14.93 $14.93
-11.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,267 $2,267
$2,063 $2,063
9.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.52 $39.52
$64.3 $64.3
-38.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4 $64.4
$52.4 $52.4
22.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.5 $74.5
$95.2 $95.2
-21.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$145 $145
-7.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$2,378 $2,378
-0.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,239 $2,239
$1,584 $1,584
41.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,171 $4,171
$4,763 $4,763
-12.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,480 $3,480
$2,815 $2,815
23.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,234 $4,234
$3,588 $3,588
18.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,391 $4,391
$2,490 $2,490
76.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Island, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,341 $5,341
$5,275 $5,275
1.25%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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