Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester, NH and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester, NH and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Manchester, NH is 5.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Manchester, NH is 7.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.54 $27.54
$20.82 $20.82
32.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84 $84
$100 $100
-16.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.15 $11.15
$11.97 $11.97
-6.85%
Cappuccino
$4.27 $4.27
$5.56 $5.56
-23.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.42 $2.42
-18.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$6.86 $6.86
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23 $7.23
$8.45 $8.45
-14.44%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.04 $1.04
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 $2.99
$4.15 $4.15
-27.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$5.52 $5.52
-10.33%
Eggs
$4.58 $4.58
$4.65 $4.65
-1.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$14.33 $14.33
-18.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.85 $10.85
$14.88 $14.88
-27.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 $14.69
$19.34 $19.34
-24.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$5.17 $5.17
6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.71 $1.71
26.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.41 $4.41
1.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$6 $6
$4.51 $4.51
33.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.53 $2.53
-5.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.74 $2.74
17.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.43 $2.43
-11.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.7 $2.7
-15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.17 $10.17
$15.19 $15.19
-33.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.21 $15.21
$16.42 $16.42
-7.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.35 $2.35
-20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 $4.92
$3.7 $3.7
32.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.8 $59.8
$74.1 $74.1
-19.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$3.34 $3.34
22.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.42 $1.42
-33.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.99 $29.99
$25.42 $25.42
17.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.54%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$188 $188
14.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 $50.5
$63.7 $63.7
-20.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1 $83.1
$65.2 $65.2
27.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.6 $82.6
$76.7 $76.7
7.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.41 $40.41
$13.03 $13.03
210.13%
Cinema Ticket
$11.3 $11.3
$14.93 $14.93
-24.31%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,267 $1,267
$2,063 $2,063
-38.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K $18.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.32%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.81 $43.81
$64.3 $64.3
-31.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41 $44.41
$52.4 $52.4
-15.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 $90.5
$95.2 $95.2
-4.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.34%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,753 $1,753
$2,378 $2,378
-26.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,474 $1,474
$1,584 $1,584
-6.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,475 $2,475
$4,763 $4,763
-48.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,299 $2,299
$2,815 $2,815
-18.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,288 $3,288
$3,588 $3,588
-8.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,268 $3,268
$2,490 $2,490
31.23%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Manchester, NH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,164 $4,164
$5,275 $5,275
-21.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
6.6
-5.45%

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

Last update for Manchester, NH: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.