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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 30% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 47.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 30.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 56.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.68 $29.68

$20.82 $20.82

42.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$100 $100

43.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$11.97 $11.97

3.84%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.56 $5.56

5.04%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$3.11 $3.11

4.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.42 $2.42

6.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$6.86 $6.86

20.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.45 $8.45

40.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.04 $1.04

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.15 $4.15

26.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.52 $5.52

46.92%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.65 $4.65

55.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$14.33 $14.33

19.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$14.88 $14.88

9.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$19.34 $19.34

3.52%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$5.17 $5.17

44.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.71 $1.71

49.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$4.41 $4.41

31.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.51 $4.51

44.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.53 $2.53

47.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$2.74 $2.74

42.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.43 $2.43

26.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.7 $2.7

-4.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.21 $19.21

$15.19 $15.19

26.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$16.42 $16.42

8.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.35 $2.35

28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.7 $3.7

0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.53 $2.53

15.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$74.1 $74.1

80.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.34 $3.34

53.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.42 $1.42

51.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.57 $41.57

$25.42 $25.42

63.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.08 $1.08

-12.04%

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

$35K $35K

$32.4K $32.4K

8.07%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

5.65%

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

$179 $179

$188 $188

-5.12%

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

$60 $60

$63.7 $63.7

-5.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$65.2 $65.2

-2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$76.7 $76.7

83.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$13.03 $13.03

390.41%

Cinema Ticket

$19.9 $19.9

$14.93 $14.93

33.29%

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

$3,206 $3,206

$2,063 $2,063

55.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.5K $56.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

44.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$64.3 $64.3

2.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 $48.75

$52.4 $52.4

-6.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$95.2 $95.2

16.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$145 $145

18.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,165 $4,165

$2,378 $2,378

75.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,584 $1,584

67.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,412 $8,412

$4,763 $4,763

76.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,277 $5,277

$2,815 $2,815

87.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.6K $15.6K

$3,588 $3,588

335.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$2,490 $2,490

348.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,616 $5,616

$5,275 $5,275

6.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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