Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in McKeesport, PA: $2,140 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

103

Cost of Living Index in McKeesport, PA
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McKeesport, PA Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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McKeesport, PA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,140

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,140 per month in McKeesport, PA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

McKeesport, PA $2,140
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,192 per month in McKeesport, PA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

McKeesport, PA $3,192
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,244 per month in McKeesport, PA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

McKeesport, PA $4,244
Chicago, IL $5,999

McKeesport, PA is about 30% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both McKeesport, PA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – McKeesport, PA by 57%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.87 $27.87

$20.71 $20.71

34.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.3 $61.3

$89.2 $89.2

-31.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.36 $11.36

$13.19 $13.19

-13.87%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$5.66 $5.66

-11.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.64 $2.64

-28.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.28 $2.28

-57.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 $3.52

$6.87 $6.87

-48.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$8.84 $8.84

-42.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.25 $1.25

-11.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 $2.30

$3.72 $3.72

-38.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.39 $5.39

-6.86%

Eggs

$3.40 $3.40

$4.74 $4.74

-28.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.72 $10.72

$13.84 $13.84

-22.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.49 $15.49

$14.40 $14.40

7.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.28 $24.28

$18.38 $18.38

32.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.22 $5.22

-6.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.98 $1.98

-10.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.06 $4.06

5.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.97 $4.97

9.46%

Potato (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$2.67 $2.67

135.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.66 $2.66

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.24 $2.24

6.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.13 $3.13

-52.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$13.82 $13.82

-28.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$14.88 $14.88

2.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.54 $2.54

-21.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.51 $3.51

-5.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.43 $2.43

-18.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

$73.5 $73.5

-19.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.18 $3.18

0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.39 $1.39

23.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.28 $30.28

$25.03 $25.03

20.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.20 $1.20

-3.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K $28.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-19.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$321 $321

$194 $194

64.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.1 $55.1

$69.5 $69.5

-20.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 $55.4

$61.6 $61.6

-10.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.49 $40.49

$47.90 $47.90

-15.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.86 $9.86

$27.34 $27.34

-63.94%

Cinema Ticket

$13.77 $13.77

$17.81 $17.81

-22.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,373 $1,373

$1,794 $1,794

-23.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

-26.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$67.0 $67.0

-22.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.51 $41.51

$52.1 $52.1

-20.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 $87.7

$102 $102

-13.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$144 $144

-19.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 $838

$2,526 $2,526

-66.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 $643

$1,578 $1,578

-59.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 $1,314

$4,738 $4,738

-72.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,109 $1,109

$2,693 $2,693

-58.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,870 $2,870

$4,190 $4,190

-31.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,387 $2,387

$2,768 $2,768

-13.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,020 $3,020

$4,931 $4,931

-38.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for McKeesport, PA: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

McKeesport, PA

$643 30.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 145% $935

Monthly Utilities & Internet

McKeesport, PA

$431 20.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 24.5% $106

Groceries & Markets

McKeesport, PA

$429 20%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 4.3% $19

Eating Out

McKeesport, PA

$356 16.7%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 3.2% $12

Clothing & Footwear

McKeesport, PA

$133 6.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 22.8% $31

Getting Around

McKeesport, PA

$79 3.7%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 18.2% $14

Sport & Entertainment

McKeesport, PA

$68 3.2%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 22.8% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $838 in McKeesport, 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.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in McKeesport, PA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $447 – making McKeesport, PA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 McKeesport, PA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:04 5:04 AM

04:04 4:04 AM

1 h behind McKeesport, PA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

22,408

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

McKeesport, PA Chicago, IL 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

McKeesport, 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

McKeesport, PA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,140 in McKeesport, PA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – McKeesport, PA comes out roughly 30% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,210 per month in McKeesport, PA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in McKeesport, PA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $838 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in McKeesport, PA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in McKeesport, PA, where all-in costs run around $2,140, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In McKeesport, PA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward McKeesport, PA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with McKeesport, PA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.