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

🙂 Solo nomad: Reading, PA is 4.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Reading, PA is 10.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.15 $18.15

$20.82 $20.82

-12.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$100 $100

-33.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.68 $11.68

$11.97 $11.97

-2.42%

Cappuccino

$4.59 $4.59

$5.56 $5.56

-17.45%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$3.11 $3.11

-21.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.5 $1.5

$2.42 $2.42

-38.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 $6.69

$6.86 $6.86

-2.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.45 $8.45

-4.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.04 $1.04

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.15 $4.15

-20.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.52 $5.52

-29.89%

Eggs

$4.97 $4.97

$4.65 $4.65

6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 $13.33

$14.33 $14.33

-6.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.61 $11.61

$14.88 $14.88

-21.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.35 $17.35

$19.34 $19.34

-10.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.17 $5.17

-15.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.7 $1.7

$1.71 $1.71

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.41 $4.41

-8.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.3 $3.3

$4.51 $4.51

-26.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.53 $2.53

1.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.74 $2.74

-2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.43 $2.43

-6.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.7 $2.7

-33.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.72 $9.72

$15.19 $15.19

-36.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 $14.23

$16.42 $16.42

-13.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.35 $2.35

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.7 $3.7

-16.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.53 $2.53

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.17 $44.17

$74.1 $74.1

-40.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.34 $3.34

-11.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.42 $1.42

53.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.18 $24.18

$25.42 $25.42

-4.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-37.88%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-24.12%

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

$127 $127

$188 $188

-32.59%

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

$44.71 $44.71

$63.7 $63.7

-29.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.5 $53.5

$65.2 $65.2

-17.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.83 $42.83

$76.7 $76.7

-44.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$17.29 $17.29

$14.93 $14.93

15.81%

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

$1,078 $1,078

$2,063 $2,063

-47.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24K $24K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 $73.6

$64.3 $64.3

14.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.1 $62.1

$52.4 $52.4

18.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 $76.5

$95.2 $95.2

-19.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$145 $145

-6.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 $1,666

$2,378 $2,378

-29.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 $1,409

$1,584 $1,584

-11.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 $2,136

$4,763 $4,763

-55.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 $1,941

$2,815 $2,815

-31.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,797 $1,797

$3,588 $3,588

-49.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,806 $1,806

$2,490 $2,490

-27.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,851 $2,851

$5,275 $5,275

-45.95%

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 Reading, PA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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