Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oak Harbor, WA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

159

Cost of Living Index in Oak Harbor, WA
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Oak Harbor, WA Living Index
147

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

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Oak Harbor, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,321

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oak Harbor, WA 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 Oak Harbor, WA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,321 per month in Oak Harbor, WA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Oak Harbor, WA $3,321
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,592 per month in Oak Harbor, WA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Oak Harbor, WA $4,592
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,863 per month in Oak Harbor, WA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Oak Harbor, WA $5,863
Chicago, IL $5,999

Oak Harbor, WA costs about 9% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Oak Harbor, WA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Oak Harbor, WA by 144%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.65 $17.65

$20.71 $20.71

-14.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 $71.2

$89.2 $89.2

-20.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.51 $18.51

$13.19 $13.19

40.33%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$5.66 $5.66

-5.48%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$2.64 $2.64

-11.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.28 $2.28

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.87 $6.87

13.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.60 $7.60

$8.84 $8.84

-14.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.25 $1.25

30.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.72 $3.72

19.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.39 $5.39

27.27%

Eggs

$5.64 $5.64

$4.74 $4.74

18.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$13.84 $13.84

43.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$14.40 $14.40

-10.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.85 $24.85

$18.38 $18.38

35.20%

Apples (1kg)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.22 $5.22

56.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.98 $1.98

-32.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.06 $4.06

70.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.78 $6.78

$4.97 $4.97

36.42%

Potato (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$2.67 $2.67

57.68%

Onion (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.66 $2.66

73.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.24 $2.24

16.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.13 $3.13

-30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$13.82 $13.82

-28.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 $14.21

$14.88 $14.88

-4.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.54 $2.54

7.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.51 $3.51

14.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.43 $2.43

-16.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.2 $59.2

$73.5 $73.5

-19.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.18 $3.18

2.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.39 $1.39

36.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.38 $27.38

$25.03 $25.03

9.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.20 $1.20

-3.33%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-21.62%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.98%

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

$391 $391

$194 $194

101.16%

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

$61.4 $61.4

$69.5 $69.5

-11.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$97.5 $97.5

$61.6 $61.6

58.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.29 $34.29

$47.90 $47.90

-28.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$14.86 $14.86

$17.81 $17.81

-16.56%

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

$1,347 $1,347

$1,794 $1,794

-24.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

-25.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 $58.8

$67.0 $67.0

-12.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.05 $37.05

$52.1 $52.1

-28.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 $131

$102 $102

28.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$196 $196

$144 $144

36.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,300 $2,300

$2,526 $2,526

-8.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

-0.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,235 $3,235

$4,738 $4,738

-31.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,299 $2,299

$2,693 $2,693

-14.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,057 $4,057

$4,190 $4,190

-3.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,768 $2,768

49.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,305 $3,305

$4,931 $4,931

-32.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

2.79%

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

Last update for Oak Harbor, WA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Oak Harbor, WA

$1.6K 47.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 0% $0.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Oak Harbor, WA

$550 16.6%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 40.8% $225

Groceries & Markets

Oak Harbor, WA

$528 15.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 15.3% $81

Eating Out

Oak Harbor, WA

$331 10%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 4.3% $14

Clothing & Footwear

Oak Harbor, WA

$190 5.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 13.7% $26

Getting Around

Oak Harbor, WA

$80 2.4%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 16.6% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Oak Harbor, WA

$64 1.9%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 30.5% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,300 in Oak Harbor, WA 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 49% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Oak Harbor, WA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $528 in Oak Harbor, WA vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Oak Harbor, WA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

15:15 3:15 PM

17:15 5:15 PM

2 h ahead of Oak Harbor, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

24,622

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Oak Harbor, WA Chicago, IL 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Oak Harbor, WA
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

Oak Harbor, WA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 9% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,981 per month in Oak Harbor, WA 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 $2,300 in Oak Harbor, WA 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 18% more in Oak Harbor, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Oak Harbor, WA 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 $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA 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 $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.