Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Marysville, WA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Marysville, WA: $2,613 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Marysville, WA, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Marysville, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,613
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Marysville, WA 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 Marysville, WA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,613 per month in Marysville, WA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Marysville, WA $2,613
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,855 per month in Marysville, WA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Marysville, WA $3,855
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,097 per month in Marysville, WA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Marysville, WA $5,097
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Marysville, WA is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Marysville, WA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Marysville, WA by 92%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.64 $18.64
$20.71 $20.71
-10.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1 $76.1
$89.2 $89.2
-14.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 $11.17
$13.19 $13.19
-15.31%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.66 $5.66
-12.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.64 $2.64
-4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.28 $2.28
-14.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.08 $6.08
$6.87 $6.87
-11.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 $6.96
$8.84 $8.84
-21.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.25 $1.25
-19.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.72 $3.72
-6.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$5.39 $5.39
-21.15%
Eggs
$4.12 $4.12
$4.74 $4.74
-13.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.19 $12.19
$13.84 $13.84
-11.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.51 $11.51
$14.40 $14.40
-20.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.62 $15.62
$18.38 $18.38
-15.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$5.22 $5.22
-4.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.98 $1.98
-17.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.06 $4.06
2.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$4.97 $4.97
-2.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.67 $2.67
5.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.66 $2.66
3.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.24 $2.24
-8.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$3.13 $3.13
-33.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87 $9.87
$13.82 $13.82
-28.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.07 $14.07
$14.88 $14.88
-5.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.54 $2.54
-26.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.51 $3.51
-3.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.43 $2.43
-19.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.2 $58.2
$73.5 $73.5
-20.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.18 $3.18
12.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.39 $1.39
13.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.94 $28.94
$25.03 $25.03
15.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.20 $1.20
-25.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$35.0K $35.0K
-15.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.7K $26.7K
-5.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$194 $194
-3.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$69.5 $69.5
-23.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 $68.8
$61.6 $61.6
11.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.93 $42.93
$47.90 $47.90
-10.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.27 $13.27
$17.81 $17.81
-25.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,287 $1,287
$1,794 $1,794
-28.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$31.9K $31.9K
-26.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 $51.2
$67.0 $67.0
-23.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.88 $39.88
$52.1 $52.1
-23.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 $86.5
$102 $102
-14.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$144 $144
-21.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$2,526 $2,526
-37.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 $1,336
$1,578 $1,578
-15.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,632 $2,632
$4,738 $4,738
-44.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,266 $2,266
$2,693 $2,693
-15.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,750 $2,750
$4,190 $4,190
-34.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,424 $2,424
$2,768 $2,768
-12.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marysville, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,931 $4,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.81
-4.41%

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

Last update for Marysville, WA: 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
Marysville, WA
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 18.2% $242
Groceries & Markets
Marysville, WA
$386
Chicago, IL
$447 15.8% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marysville, WA
$309
Chicago, IL
$326 5.3% $17
Eating Out
Marysville, WA
$304
Chicago, IL
$345 13.3% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Marysville, WA
$131
Chicago, IL
$164 25.2% $33
Getting Around
Marysville, WA
$78
Chicago, IL
$93 20.5% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Marysville, WA
$69
Chicago, IL
$84 20.2% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in Marysville, WA 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 $76 in Marysville, WA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $447 – making Marysville, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Marysville, WA
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
08:13 8:13 AM
10:13 10:13 AM
2 h ahead of Marysville, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
70,714
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 = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Marysville, WA Chicago, IL 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Marysville, WA
  • 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
Marysville, WA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Marysville, WA and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,613 in Marysville, WA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 16% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Marysville, WA compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,920 per month in Marysville, WA 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 Marysville, WA and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Marysville, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,575 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Marysville, WA 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 $2,613 in Marysville, WA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Marysville, WA or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward Marysville, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Marysville, WA or Chicago, IL?
For expats, Marysville, WA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 16% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Marysville, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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