Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockville, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockville, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Rockville, MD is 3.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rockville, MD is 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.22 $21.22
$20.82 $20.82
1.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$100 $100
-19.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.48 $10.48
$11.97 $11.97
-12.45%
Cappuccino
$5.72 $5.72
$5.56 $5.56
2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.11 $3.11
-20.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.42 $2.42
-13.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.46 $6.46
$6.86 $6.86
-5.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56 $7.56
$8.45 $8.45
-10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.04 $1.04
15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 $3.83
$4.15 $4.15
-7.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$5.52 $5.52
-19.20%
Eggs
$4.23 $4.23
$4.65 $4.65
-9.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.52 $13.52
$14.33 $14.33
-5.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.87 $14.87
$14.88 $14.88
-0.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.02 $16.02
$19.34 $19.34
-17.17%
Apples (1kg)
$6.88 $6.88
$5.17 $5.17
33.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$4.41 $4.41
38.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.51 $4.51
18.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.53 $2.53
13.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.74 $2.74
2.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.43 $2.43
-27.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.7 $2.7
-0.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.98 $11.98
$15.19 $15.19
-21.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.78 $14.78
$16.42 $16.42
-9.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.35 $2.35
-0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.7 $3.7
1.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.53 $2.53
1.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 $138
$74.1 $74.1
86.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.34 $3.34
-13.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.42 $1.42
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.54 $23.54
$25.42 $25.42
-7.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31K $31K
$32.4K $32.4K
-4.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$188 $188
-9.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.16 $46.16
$63.7 $63.7
-27.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$65.2 $65.2
9.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.46 $42.46
$76.7 $76.7
-44.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.69 $12.69
$13.03 $13.03
-2.61%
Cinema Ticket
$14.9 $14.9
$14.93 $14.93
-0.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,750 $1,750
$2,063 $2,063
-15.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.6K $33.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-14.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$64.3 $64.3
-18.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 $54.6
$52.4 $52.4
4.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 $93.6
$95.2 $95.2
-1.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$145 $145
-19.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 $2,029
$2,378 $2,378
-14.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 $1,596
$1,584 $1,584
0.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,840 $3,840
$4,763 $4,763
-19.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,165 $3,165
$2,815 $2,815
12.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,339 $4,339
$3,588 $3,588
20.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,484 $2,484
$2,490 $2,490
-0.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,328 $6,328
$5,275 $5,275
19.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Rockville, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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