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

🙂 Solo nomad: Meadville, PA is 26.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Meadville, PA is 30.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.13 $14.13
$20.82 $20.82
-32.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 $55.7
$100 $100
-44.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$11.97 $11.97
0.50%
Cappuccino
$3.18 $3.18
$5.56 $5.56
-42.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$3.11 $3.11
-42.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.42 $2.42
-19.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 $2.26
$6.86 $6.86
-67.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$8.45 $8.45
-15.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.04 $1.04
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 $3.35
$4.15 $4.15
-19.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.52 $5.52
-10.51%
Eggs
$3.56 $3.56
$4.65 $4.65
-23.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.41 $13.41
$14.33 $14.33
-6.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.58 $6.58
$14.88 $14.88
-55.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.15 $12.15
$19.34 $19.34
-37.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$5.17 $5.17
-37.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.71 $1.71
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.41 $4.41
-0.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.51 $4.51
8.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.53 $2.53
-1.58%
Onion (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.74 $2.74
27.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.43 $2.43
-2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.7 $2.7
-9.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.08 $10.08
$15.19 $15.19
-33.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.7 $17.7
$16.42 $16.42
7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.7 $3.7
-11.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.34 $3.34
-26.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.42 $1.42
59.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.56 $44.56
$25.42 $25.42
75.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.08 $1.08
-10.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K $21.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-32.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 $252
$188 $188
33.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.23 $39.23
$63.7 $63.7
-38.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4 $61.4
$65.2 $65.2
-5.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.18 $43.18
$76.7 $76.7
-43.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.23 $14.23
$14.93 $14.93
-4.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$890 $890
$2,063 $2,063
-56.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$39.2K $39.2K
-25.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.85 $44.85
$64.3 $64.3
-30.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.6 $45.6
$52.4 $52.4
-12.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 $80.9
$95.2 $95.2
-15.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$145 $145
-19.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,606 $1,606
$2,378 $2,378
-32.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$1,584 $1,584
-14.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,673 $2,673
$4,763 $4,763
-43.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,185 $2,185
$2,815 $2,815
-22.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,526 $2,526
$3,588 $3,588
-29.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,274 $2,274
$2,490 $2,490
-8.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meadville, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,736 $1,736
$5,275 $5,275
-67.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.2
6.6
-6.06%

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

Last update for Meadville, PA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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