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

🙂 Solo nomad: Mechanicsburg, PA is 25.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mechanicsburg, PA is 14.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.68 $24.68
$20.82 $20.82
18.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 $64.6
$100 $100
-35.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 $10.89
$11.97 $11.97
-9.02%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$5.56 $5.56
-1.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.11 $3.11
-36.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.42 $2.42
-38.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$6.86 $6.86
1.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.19 $9.19
$8.45 $8.45
8.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.04 $1.04
10.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.15 $4.15
-10.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$5.52 $5.52
-62.86%
Eggs
$3.66 $3.66
$4.65 $4.65
-21.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.47 $19.47
$14.33 $14.33
35.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.19 $10.19
$14.88 $14.88
-31.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.71 $15.71
$19.34 $19.34
-18.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$5.17 $5.17
-17.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.71 $1.71
-25.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$4.41 $4.41
-39.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.3 $4.3
$4.51 $4.51
-4.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.53 $2.53
18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.74 $2.74
-17.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.43 $2.43
-30.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.7 $2.7
2.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.2 $12.2
$15.19 $15.19
-19.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.76 $16.76
$16.42 $16.42
2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.35 $2.35
-15.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.7 $3.7
-8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.34 $3.34
-16.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.42 $1.42
0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.1 $25.1
$25.42 $25.42
-1.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.08 $1.08
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-3.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 $125
$188 $188
-33.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.29 $44.29
$63.7 $63.7
-30.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$65.2 $65.2
9.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.53 $42.53
$76.7 $76.7
-44.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 $14.82
$14.93 $14.93
-0.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,917 $1,917
$2,063 $2,063
-7.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.5K $36.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-6.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 $55.2
$64.3 $64.3
-14.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 $54.1
$52.4 $52.4
3.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 $92
$95.2 $95.2
-3.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$145 $145
-18.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 $1,576
$2,378 $2,378
-33.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 $1,335
$1,584 $1,584
-15.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,630 $2,630
$4,763 $4,763
-44.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,815 $2,815
-19.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,698 $2,698
$3,588 $3,588
-24.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,526 $2,526
$2,490 $2,490
1.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mechanicsburg, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,271 $5,271
$5,275 $5,275
-0.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Mechanicsburg, PA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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