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

🙂 Solo nomad: Rochester, NY is 14.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Rochester, NY is 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.21 $25.21

$20.82 $20.82

21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$100 $100

-18.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 $10.41

$11.97 $11.97

-13.03%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.56 $5.56

3.96%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$3.11 $3.11

-17.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.42 $2.42

15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.02 $4.02

$6.86 $6.86

-41.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.1 $6.1

$8.45 $8.45

-27.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.04 $1.04

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.15 $4.15

-30.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.52 $5.52

-11.41%

Eggs

$4.02 $4.02

$4.65 $4.65

-13.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$14.33 $14.33

-22.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 $7.82

$14.88 $14.88

-47.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.58 $15.58

$19.34 $19.34

-19.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.17 $5.17

6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.71 $1.71

-23.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.41 $4.41

-5.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.51 $4.51

7.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.53 $2.53

40.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.74 $2.74

18.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.43 $2.43

-15.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.7 $2.7

-33.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.19 $15.19

-2.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$16.42 $16.42

-40.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.35 $2.35

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.7 $3.7

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.53 $2.53

-21.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.47 $46.47

$74.1 $74.1

-37.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.34 $3.34

-26.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.42 $1.42

27.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.32 $21.32

$25.42 $25.42

-16.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.08 $1.08

-10.19%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.88%

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

$25K $25K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.83%

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

$148 $148

$188 $188

-21.60%

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

$50.9 $50.9

$63.7 $63.7

-20.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$65.2 $65.2

1.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.75 $44.75

$76.7 $76.7

-41.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.87 $44.87

$13.03 $13.03

244.36%

Cinema Ticket

$13.42 $13.42

$14.93 $14.93

-10.11%

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

$1,362 $1,362

$2,063 $2,063

-33.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-24.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.77 $40.77

$64.3 $64.3

-36.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.18 $33.18

$52.4 $52.4

-36.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 $83.1

$95.2 $95.2

-12.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.4 $87.4

$145 $145

-39.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$2,378 $2,378

-34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,199 $1,199

$1,584 $1,584

-24.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 $2,221

$4,763 $4,763

-53.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 $2,261

$2,815 $2,815

-19.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,429 $1,429

$3,588 $3,588

-60.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,378 $1,378

$2,490 $2,490

-44.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,339 $3,339

$5,275 $5,275

-36.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

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

Last update for Rochester, NY: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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