Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Mansfield, PA: $2,047 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mansfield, PA, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Mansfield, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,047
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mansfield, PA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mansfield, PA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,047 per month in Mansfield, PA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Mansfield, PA $2,047
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,240 per month in Mansfield, PA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Mansfield, PA $3,240
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,432 per month in Mansfield, PA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Mansfield, PA $4,432
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Mansfield, PA is about 33% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mansfield, PA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Mansfield, PA by 50%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.45 $22.45
$20.71 $20.71
8.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.9 $96.9
$89.2 $89.2
8.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.03 $8.03
$13.19 $13.19
-39.12%
Cappuccino
$5.73 $5.73
$5.66 $5.66
1.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.64 $2.64
7.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.28 $2.28
-57.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.87 $6.87
-19.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 $6.84
$8.84 $8.84
-22.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.25 $1.25
-23.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.72 $3.72
-16.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$5.39 $5.39
-37.66%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.74 $4.74
-4.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.06 $13.06
$13.84 $13.84
-5.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.71 $9.71
$14.40 $14.40
-32.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.10 $16.10
$18.38 $18.38
-12.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$5.22 $5.22
-8.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.98 $1.98
-21.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.06 $4.06
-14.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$4.97 $4.97
-21.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.67 $2.67
4.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.66 $2.66
-27.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.24 $2.24
5.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 $1.24
$3.13 $3.13
-60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31 $9.31
$13.82 $13.82
-32.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 $17.65
$14.88 $14.88
18.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.54 $2.54
-20.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.51 $3.51
16.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.43 $2.43
-27.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.7 $51.7
$73.5 $73.5
-29.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 $5.43
$3.18 $3.18
70.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.39 $1.39
64.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.55 $45.55
$25.03 $25.03
81.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.20 $1.20
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K $33.7K
$35.0K $35.0K
-3.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.7K $26.7K
-3.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 $270
$194 $194
39.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$69.5 $69.5
-25.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$61.6 $61.6
9.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.50 $37.50
$47.90 $47.90
-21.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.83 $12.83
$17.81 $17.81
-27.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,246 $1,246
$1,794 $1,794
-30.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.6K $32.6K
$31.9K $31.9K
1.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 $54.0
$67.0 $67.0
-19.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.10 $44.10
$52.1 $52.1
-15.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 $88.8
$102 $102
-12.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$144 $144
-27.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$796 $796
$2,526 $2,526
-68.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 $694
$1,578 $1,578
-56.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,444 $1,444
$4,738 $4,738
-69.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 $1,425
$2,693 $2,693
-47.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,586 $2,586
$4,190 $4,190
-38.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,664 $2,664
$2,768 $2,768
-3.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mansfield, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,931 $4,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.87
6.81
-13.80%

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

Last update for Mansfield, PA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mansfield, PA
$694
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 127% $884
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mansfield, PA
$390
Chicago, IL
$326 16.5% $64
Groceries & Markets
Mansfield, PA
$365
Chicago, IL
$447 22.7% $83
Eating Out
Mansfield, PA
$329
Chicago, IL
$345 4.8% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Mansfield, PA
$131
Chicago, IL
$164 25.3% $33
Getting Around
Mansfield, PA
$76
Chicago, IL
$93 23.6% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Mansfield, PA
$63
Chicago, IL
$84 32.2% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Mansfield, PA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $97 in Mansfield, PA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Mansfield, PA vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Mansfield, PA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Mansfield, PA
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
19:02 7:02 PM
18:02 6:02 PM
1 h behind Mansfield, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,212
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mansfield, PA Chicago, IL 870 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mansfield, PA
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mansfield, PA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mansfield, PA and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,047 in Mansfield, PA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Mansfield, PA comes out roughly 33% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Mansfield, PA compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,071 per month in Mansfield, PA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mansfield, PA and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mansfield, PA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $796 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $97 in Mansfield, PA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,047 in Mansfield, PA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Mansfield, PA or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward Mansfield, PA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Mansfield, PA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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