Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Norwalk, CT and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $4,059 in Norwalk, CT, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Norwalk, CT outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

194

Cost of Living Index in Norwalk, CT
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Norwalk, CT Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Norwalk, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$4,059

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Norwalk, CT and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Norwalk, CT and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,059 per month in Norwalk, CT vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Norwalk, CT $4,059
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $5,652 per month in Norwalk, CT vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Norwalk, CT $5,652
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $7,246 per month in Norwalk, CT vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Norwalk, CT $7,246
Chicago, IL $5,999

Norwalk, CT costs about 34% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Norwalk, CT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Norwalk, CT by 198%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$20.71 $20.71

-2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$89.2 $89.2

-11.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 $12.06

$13.19 $13.19

-8.57%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.66 $5.66

-3.71%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.64 $2.64

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.28 $2.28

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.87 $6.87

17.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 $8.98

$8.84 $8.84

1.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.25 $1.25

-8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.72 $3.72

14.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.39 $5.39

-19.67%

Eggs

$3.68 $3.68

$4.74 $4.74

-22.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$13.84 $13.84

17.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.43 $16.43

$14.40 $14.40

14.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$18.38 $18.38

8.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.98 $1.98

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.06 $4.06

-9.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.97 $4.97

0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.67 $2.67

48.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.66 $2.66

19.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.24 $2.24

-12.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.13 $3.13

-24.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.08 $13.08

$13.82 $13.82

-5.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.22 $21.22

$14.88 $14.88

42.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.54 $2.54

-18.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.51 $3.51

-4.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.43 $2.43

-28.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.1 $69.1

$73.5 $73.5

-6.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.18 $3.18

-35.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.39 $1.39

58.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.55 $41.55

$25.03 $25.03

66.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.20 $1.20

-14.17%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-35.43%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.88%

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

$245 $245

$194 $194

26.01%

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

$61.9 $61.9

$69.5 $69.5

-10.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 $50.8

$61.6 $61.6

-17.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.13 $30.13

$47.90 $47.90

-37.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.32 $30.32

$27.34 $27.34

10.90%

Cinema Ticket

$14.78 $14.78

$17.81 $17.81

-17.01%

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

$2,012 $2,012

$1,794 $1,794

12.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.8K $33.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

5.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.22 $49.22

$67.0 $67.0

-26.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 $20.04

$52.1 $52.1

-61.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$102 $102

15.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$144 $144

-16.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,486 $2,486

$2,526 $2,526

-1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$1,578 $1,578

64.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,264 $4,264

$4,738 $4,738

-10.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,037 $4,037

$2,693 $2,693

49.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,935 $3,935

$4,190 $4,190

-6.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,812 $3,812

$2,768 $2,768

37.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,225 $5,225

$4,931 $4,931

5.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

6.81

-13.36%

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

Last update for Norwalk, CT: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Norwalk, CT

$2.6K 64.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 39.4% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Norwalk, CT

$470 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 4.9% $23

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Norwalk, CT

$358 8.8%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 9% $32

Eating Out

Norwalk, CT

$341 8.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 1.2% $4.1

Clothing & Footwear

Norwalk, CT

$138 3.4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 18.8% $26

Getting Around

Norwalk, CT

$89 2.2%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 4.9% $4.4

Sport & Entertainment

Norwalk, CT

$60 1.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 39.9% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,486 in Norwalk, CT versus $2,526 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 6% higher in Norwalk, CT, 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 $79 in Norwalk, CT versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $470 in Norwalk, CT vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Norwalk, CT

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

09:19 9:19 AM

08:19 8:19 AM

1 h behind Norwalk, CT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

85,603

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Norwalk, CT Chicago, IL 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Norwalk, CT
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Norwalk, CT vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,059 in Norwalk, CT, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 34% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,088 per month in Norwalk, CT and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,486 in Norwalk, CT and $2,526 in Chicago, IL. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Norwalk, CT, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Norwalk, CT and $89 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 $4,059 in Norwalk, CT and $3,037 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $4,059 in Norwalk, CT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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