Cost of Living Comparison Between Mesa, AZ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Mesa, AZ and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Mesa, AZ is 10.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Mesa, AZ is 25.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.82 $20.82

-4.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 $74.2

$100 $100

-26.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$11.97 $11.97

-1.67%

Cappuccino

$5.95 $5.95

$5.56 $5.56

7.01%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.11 $3.11

-12.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.42 $2.42

-11.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$6.86 $6.86

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$8.45 $8.45

-16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.04 $1.04

-19.23%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.15 $4.15

2.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$5.52 $5.52

-3.44%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$4.65 $4.65

3.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.33 $14.33

-16.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.77 $11.77

$14.88 $14.88

-20.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.22 $15.22

$19.34 $19.34

-21.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.17 $5.17

-5.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.71 $1.71

14.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.41 $4.41

-8.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.2 $5.2

$4.51 $4.51

15.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.53 $2.53

31.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.74 $2.74

-6.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.7 $2.7

-9.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$15.19 $15.19

-40.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.78 $14.78

$16.42 $16.42

-9.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.35 $2.35

-6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.7 $3.7

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.12 $44.12

$74.1 $74.1

-40.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.34 $3.34

14.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.42 $1.42

-4.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.46 $35.46

$25.42 $25.42

39.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.08 $1.08

-14.81%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.22%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.01%

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

$256 $256

$188 $188

35.77%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$63.7 $63.7

10.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85 $85

$65.2 $65.2

30.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.82 $42.82

$76.7 $76.7

-44.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$11.9 $11.9

$14.93 $14.93

-20.29%

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

$1,122 $1,122

$2,063 $2,063

-45.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-60.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 $51.2

$64.3 $64.3

-20.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.89 $38.89

$52.4 $52.4

-25.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 $92.1

$95.2 $95.2

-3.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$145 $145

-17.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 $1,707

$2,378 $2,378

-28.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,336 $1,336

$1,584 $1,584

-15.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$4,763 $4,763

-46.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,320 $2,320

$2,815 $2,815

-17.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,994 $2,994

$3,588 $3,588

-16.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,480 $3,480

$2,490 $2,490

39.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,146 $4,146

$5,275 $5,275

-21.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

6.6

-2.12%

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

Last update for Mesa, AZ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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