Cost of Living Comparison Between North East, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between North East, MD and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: North East, MD is 9.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: North East, MD is 3.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.13 $24.13
$20.82 $20.82
15.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91 $91
$100 $100
-9.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 $10.94
$11.97 $11.97
-8.60%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$5.56 $5.56
1.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.11 $3.11
-7.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.42 $2.42
8.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$6.86 $6.86
17.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.94 $8.94
$8.45 $8.45
5.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.8 $3.8
$4.15 $4.15
-8.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.93 $6.93
$5.52 $5.52
25.54%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.65 $4.65
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.2 $19.2
$14.33 $14.33
33.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$14.88 $14.88
-0.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.41 $25.41
$19.34 $19.34
31.39%
Apples (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$5.17 $5.17
31.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.71 $1.71
4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$4.41 $4.41
19.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$4.51 $4.51
27.49%
Potato (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.53 $2.53
67.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.74 $2.74
21.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.43 $2.43
-4.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.7 $2.7
5.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.88 $11.88
$15.19 $15.19
-21.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.88 $16.88
$16.42 $16.42
2.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.35 $2.35
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 $3.36
$3.7 $3.7
-9.19%
🚌 Getting Around
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.34 $3.34
-13.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.54 $24.54
$25.42 $25.42
-3.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K $31.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-3.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 $128
$188 $188
-32.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.95 $43.95
$63.7 $63.7
-31.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71 $71
$65.2 $65.2
8.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.02 $43.02
$76.7 $76.7
-43.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.93 $14.93
-1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,891 $1,891
$2,063 $2,063
-8.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.4K $35.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-9.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$64.3 $64.3
-12.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 $53.7
$52.4 $52.4
2.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 $91.5
$95.2 $95.2
-3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$145 $145
-18.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$2,378 $2,378
-31.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 $1,358
$1,584 $1,584
-14.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,650 $2,650
$4,763 $4,763
-44.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,230 $2,230
$2,815 $2,815
-20.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,390 $2,390
$3,588 $3,588
-33.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,732 $2,732
$2,490 $2,490
9.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North East, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
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 North East, MD: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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