Cost of Living Comparison Between Queens, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Queens, NY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Queens, NY is 3.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Queens, NY is 14.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.92 $16.92
$20.82 $20.82
-18.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.6 $99.6
$100 $100
-0.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.89 $11.89
$11.97 $11.97
-0.67%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$5.56 $5.56
-4.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.4 $2.4
$3.11 $3.11
-22.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.42 $2.42
-35.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.06 $7.06
$6.86 $6.86
2.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.2 $8.2
$8.45 $8.45
-2.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.04 $1.04
21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.15 $4.15
-10.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$5.52 $5.52
-6.88%
Eggs
$6.49 $6.49
$4.65 $4.65
39.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.22 $21.22
$14.33 $14.33
48.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.25 $10.25
$14.88 $14.88
-31.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.54 $19.54
$19.34 $19.34
1.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.7 $5.7
$5.17 $5.17
10.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.71 $1.71
55.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$4.41 $4.41
-5.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$4.51 $4.51
-8.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.53 $2.53
12.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.74 $2.74
-4.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.43 $2.43
-1.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.7 $2.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.33 $17.33
$15.19 $15.19
14.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.8 $14.8
$16.42 $16.42
-9.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 $4.31
$3.7 $3.7
16.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.53 $2.53
17.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$132 $132
$74.1 $74.1
77.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.34 $3.34
-8.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.42 $1.42
41.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.17 $42.17
$25.42 $25.42
65.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K $23.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 $124
$188 $188
-34.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.87 $45.87
$63.7 $63.7
-27.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$65.2 $65.2
-10.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.89 $44.89
$76.7 $76.7
-41.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.18 $48.18
$13.03 $13.03
269.76%
Cinema Ticket
$16.99 $16.99
$14.93 $14.93
13.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,775 $1,775
$2,063 $2,063
-13.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16K $16K
$39.2K $39.2K
-59.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.93 $49.93
$64.3 $64.3
-22.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 $62.2
$52.4 $52.4
18.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85 $85
$95.2 $95.2
-10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$145 $145
-9.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,284 $2,284
$2,378 $2,378
-3.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 $1,917
$1,584 $1,584
21.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,734 $3,734
$4,763 $4,763
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,169 $3,169
$2,815 $2,815
12.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,510 $8,510
$3,588 $3,588
137.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,197 $6,197
$2,490 $2,490
148.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queens, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,494 $3,494
$5,275 $5,275
-33.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.6
0.30%

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

Last update for Queens, NY: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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