Cost of Living Comparison Between New City, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New City, NY and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,560 per month in New City, NY vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,333 per month in New City, NY vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,107 per month in New City, NY vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

New City, NY costs about 47% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New City, NY and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – New City, NY by 232%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.81 $13.81

$19.86 $19.86

-30.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.6 $83.6

$88.3 $88.3

-5.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 $10.96

$13.23 $13.23

-17.16%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$5.86 $5.86

-7.17%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$2.61 $2.61

-17.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.32 $2.32

-31.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$7.03 $7.03

12.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.06 $8.06

$9.25 $9.25

-12.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.34 $1.34

-4.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.19 $4.19

-6.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$5.50 $5.50

17.27%

Eggs

$5.57 $5.57

$4.71 $4.71

18.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$14.72 $14.72

-16.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.53 $14.53

-18.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$19.69 $19.69

-11.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$5.64 $5.64

-3.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.97 $1.97

-35.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.04 $4.04

52.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$5.07 $5.07

-2.96%

Potato (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$2.94 $2.94

86.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.92 $2.92

32.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.28 $2.28

3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$3.12 $3.12

-63.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$16.19 $16.19

-29.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.93 $9.93

$15.17 $15.17

-34.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.67 $2.67

-35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 $5.46

$3.48 $3.48

56.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.54 $2.54

7.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$125 $125

$76.0 $76.0

64.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.16 $3.16

-4.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.37 $1.37

53.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.92 $23.92

$22.66 $22.66

5.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.20 $1.20

-14.17%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$37.0K $37.0K

-13.09%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.57%

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

$196 $196

$190 $190

3.60%

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

$78.9 $78.9

$68.5 $68.5

15.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$61.1 $61.1

10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$14.66 $14.66

$18.28 $18.28

-19.80%

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

$1,987 $1,987

$1,525 $1,525

30.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$32.0K $32.0K

-27.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.59 $41.59

$64.0 $64.0

-35.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.5 $56.5

$54.4 $54.4

3.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 $70.7

$101 $101

-29.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$153 $153

-2.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,052 $3,052

$2,421 $2,421

26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,251 $3,251

$1,690 $1,690

92.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,575 $5,575

$4,584 $4,584

21.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,192 $5,192

$2,782 $2,782

86.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,255 $8,255

$4,777 $4,777

72.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.38

-3.29%

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

Last update for New City, NY: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,052 in New City, NY versus $2,421 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 73% higher in New City, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in New City, NY versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $465 – making New City, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

New City, NY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,560 in New City, NY, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 47% apart. New City, NY costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,839 per month in New City, NY and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in New City, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in New City, NY and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,560 in New City, NY and $3,106 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $4,560 in New City, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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