Cost of Living Comparison Between Olympia, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Olympia, WA and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Olympia, WA is 5.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Olympia, WA is 15.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.72 $19.72
$20.82 $20.82
-5.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 $69.7
$100 $100
-30.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.1 $12.1
$11.97 $11.97
1.09%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$5.56 $5.56
-14.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.11 $3.11
-16.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.42 $2.42
-21.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.04 $7.04
$6.86 $6.86
2.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 $6.15
$8.45 $8.45
-27.22%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.04 $1.04
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$4.15 $4.15
-11.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$5.52 $5.52
-21.92%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.65 $4.65
-5.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.13 $15.13
$14.33 $14.33
5.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$14.88 $14.88
-28.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 $15.13
$19.34 $19.34
-21.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$5.17 $5.17
2.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.71 $1.71
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$4.41 $4.41
-1.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.9 $4.9
$4.51 $4.51
8.65%
Potato (1kg)
$3 $3
$2.53 $2.53
18.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.74 $2.74
-22.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.43 $2.43
-4.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.7 $2.7
-17.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.79 $10.79
$15.19 $15.19
-28.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.83 $14.83
$16.42 $16.42
-9.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.35 $2.35
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.7 $3.7
22.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$2.53 $2.53
-86.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 $3.87
$3.34 $3.34
15.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.42 $1.42
35.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.48 $36.48
$25.42 $25.42
43.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.08 $1.08
-1.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K $33.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
3.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 $121
$188 $188
-35.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.5 $60.5
$63.7 $63.7
-5.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3 $63.3
$65.2 $65.2
-2.88%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 $58.5
$76.7 $76.7
-23.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.08 $10.08
$13.03 $13.03
-22.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.93 $10.93
$14.93 $14.93
-26.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,469 $1,469
$2,063 $2,063
-28.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K $18.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-51.74%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.38 $47.38
$52.4 $52.4
-9.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 $91.8
$95.2 $95.2
-3.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4 $99.4
$145 $145
-31.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 $1,699
$2,378 $2,378
-28.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,601 $1,601
$1,584 $1,584
1.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,772 $2,772
$4,763 $4,763
-41.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,278 $2,278
$2,815 $2,815
-19.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,163 $3,163
$3,588 $3,588
-11.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,928 $2,928
$2,490 $2,490
17.58%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Olympia, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,802 $4,802
$5,275 $5,275
-8.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.41
6.6
-2.88%

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

Last update for Olympia, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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