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

🙂 Solo nomad: Media, PA is 13.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Media, PA is 5.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 $20.39
$20.82 $20.82
-2.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$100 $100
-19.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$11.97 $11.97
0.58%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$5.56 $5.56
-11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.11 $3.11
-24.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.42 $2.42
-16.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.1 $6.1
$6.86 $6.86
-11.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.62 $7.62
$8.45 $8.45
-9.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.79 $3.79
$4.15 $4.15
-8.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$5.52 $5.52
-17.57%
Eggs
$4.48 $4.48
$4.65 $4.65
-3.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.64 $13.64
$14.33 $14.33
-4.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.18 $12.18
$14.88 $14.88
-18.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 $16.09
$19.34 $19.34
-16.80%
Apples (1kg)
$7.04 $7.04
$5.17 $5.17
36.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.71 $1.71
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.41 $4.41
58.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$4.51 $4.51
16.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.53 $2.53
30.04%
Onion (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.74 $2.74
10.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.43 $2.43
4.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.7 $2.7
-10.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.66 $12.66
$15.19 $15.19
-16.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.42 $14.42
$16.42 $16.42
-12.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.35 $2.35
-4.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.7 $3.7
6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Media, 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)
$1.76 $1.76
$3.34 $3.34
-47.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.42 $1.42
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.76 $21.76
$25.42 $25.42
-14.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-21.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$188 $188
41.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$63.7 $63.7
-10.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77 $77
$65.2 $65.2
18.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.55 $43.55
$76.7 $76.7
-43.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.89 $14.89
$14.93 $14.93
-0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,298 $1,298
$2,063 $2,063
-37.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.4K $33.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-14.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 $50.4
$64.3 $64.3
-21.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53 $42.53
$52.4 $52.4
-18.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 $86.8
$95.2 $95.2
-8.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,745 $1,745
$2,378 $2,378
-26.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,599 $1,599
$1,584 $1,584
0.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,562 $2,562
$4,763 $4,763
-46.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$2,815 $2,815
-24.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,176 $3,176
$3,588 $3,588
-11.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,321 $2,321
$2,490 $2,490
-6.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Media, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,083 $5,083
$5,275 $5,275
-3.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
6.6
-0.15%

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

Last update for Media, PA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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