Cost of Living Comparison Between Pittsburgh, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Pittsburgh, PA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Pittsburgh, PA is 7.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Pittsburgh, PA is 10.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.79 $19.79
$20.82 $20.82
-4.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 $60.7
$100 $100
-39.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 $9.82
$11.97 $11.97
-17.96%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.56 $5.56
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.11 $3.11
-5.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$6.86 $6.86
-28.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.49 $7.49
$8.45 $8.45
-11.36%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.04 $1.04
23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.15 $4.15
-0.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$5.52 $5.52
18.48%
Eggs
$4.75 $4.75
$4.65 $4.65
2.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.44 $14.44
$14.33 $14.33
0.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.03 $14.03
$14.88 $14.88
-5.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.05 $17.05
$19.34 $19.34
-11.84%
Apples (1kg)
$6.49 $6.49
$5.17 $5.17
25.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.71 $1.71
-16.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$4.41 $4.41
46.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.71 $6.71
$4.51 $4.51
48.78%
Potato (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.53 $2.53
25.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$2.74 $2.74
40.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.43 $2.43
11.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.7 $2.7
-14.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.5 $11.5
$15.19 $15.19
-24.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.9 $13.9
$16.42 $16.42
-15.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.7 $3.7
-0.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.53 $2.53
8.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 $100
$74.1 $74.1
35.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$3.34 $3.34
22.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.42 $1.42
-17.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.21 $21.21
$25.42 $25.42
-16.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.08 $1.08
-9.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.84%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$285 $285
$188 $188
51.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 $52.9
$63.7 $63.7
-17.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$65.2 $65.2
3.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.3 $43.3
$76.7 $76.7
-43.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.65 $29.65
$13.03 $13.03
127.55%
Cinema Ticket
$15.03 $15.03
$14.93 $14.93
0.67%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,299 $1,299
$2,063 $2,063
-37.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.4K $34.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-12.09%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 $41.62
$64.3 $64.3
-35.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6 $55.6
$52.4 $52.4
6.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.7 $70.7
$95.2 $95.2
-25.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 $80.3
$145 $145
-44.51%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,739 $1,739
$2,378 $2,378
-26.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,030 $1,030
$1,584 $1,584
-35.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,946 $2,946
$4,763 $4,763
-38.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,924 $1,924
$2,815 $2,815
-31.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,217 $2,217
$3,588 $3,588
-38.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,695 $1,695
$2,490 $2,490
-31.92%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Pittsburgh, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,976 $3,976
$5,275 $5,275
-24.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Pittsburgh, PA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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