Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rocky Hill, CT and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Rocky Hill, CT: $2,472 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

120

Cost of Living Index in Rocky Hill, CT
Learn more

Rocky Hill, CT Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Rocky Hill, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,472

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rocky Hill, CT and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rocky Hill, CT and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,472 per month in Rocky Hill, CT vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rocky Hill, CT $2,472
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,643 per month in Rocky Hill, CT vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rocky Hill, CT $3,643
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,814 per month in Rocky Hill, CT vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rocky Hill, CT $4,814
Chicago, IL $6,115

Rocky Hill, CT is about 21% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Rocky Hill, CT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Rocky Hill, CT by 82%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.06 $19.06

$20.65 $20.65

-7.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$90.2 $90.2

-10.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$12.94 $12.94

-6.11%

Cappuccino

$3.96 $3.96

$5.60 $5.60

-29.29%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.64 $2.64

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.27 $2.27

-34.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.98 $6.98

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.83 $8.83

-21.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.27 $1.27

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.80 $3.80

19.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$5.30 $5.30

-20.57%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$4.76 $4.76

-13.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

$13.96 $13.96

-0.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$14.61 $14.61

-30.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.45 $17.45

$18.77 $18.77

-7.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.19 $5.19

15.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 $1.98

3.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.93 $3.93

11.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.96 $4.96

-11.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.76 $2.76

-42.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.76 $2.76

-1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.22 $2.22

-47.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.98 $2.98

2.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.69 $13.69

$14.02 $14.02

-2.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$15.28 $15.28

-1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.58 $2.58

-33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.50 $3.50

-43.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.47 $2.47

-10.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.34 $3.34

-11.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.43 $1.43

51.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$24.32 $24.32

73.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.26 $1.26

-11.90%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-21.59%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.96%

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

$174 $174

$193 $193

-9.86%

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

$51.8 $51.8

$68.3 $68.3

-24.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.65 $49.65

$61.3 $61.3

-19.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.47 $39.47

$54.1 $54.1

-27.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 $12.87

$17.74 $17.74

-27.45%

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

$833 $833

$1,652 $1,652

-49.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.1K $33.1K

$31.1K $31.1K

6.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.47 $49.47

$66.1 $66.1

-25.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.46 $37.46

$51.2 $51.2

-26.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.8 $51.8

$100 $100

-48.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 $78.8

$141 $141

-44.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 $1,595

$2,446 $2,446

-34.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 $1,298

$1,678 $1,678

-22.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,548 $2,548

$4,717 $4,717

-45.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 $2,137

$2,795 $2,795

-23.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,523 $2,523

$4,105 $4,105

-38.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,663 $2,663

$2,650 $2,650

0.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$4,866 $4,866

2.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

6.81

-0.15%

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

Last update for Rocky Hill, CT: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Rocky Hill, CT

$1.3K 52.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 29.2% $380

Groceries & Markets

Rocky Hill, CT

$412 16.7%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 9.1% $38

Eating Out

Rocky Hill, CT

$301 12.2%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 14.2% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Rocky Hill, CT

$275 11.1%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 17.1% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Rocky Hill, CT

$98 4%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 64.8% $63

Sport & Entertainment

Rocky Hill, CT

$65 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 37.4% $24

Getting Around

Rocky Hill, CT

$23 * 0.9%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 321% $73

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,595 in Rocky Hill, CT versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Rocky Hill, CT, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Rocky Hill, CT versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $412 vs $449 – making Rocky Hill, CT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Rocky Hill, CT

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

02:55 2:55 AM

01:55 1:55 AM

1 h behind Rocky Hill, CT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

18,806

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Rocky Hill, CT Chicago, IL 1,240 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Rocky Hill, CT
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Rocky Hill, CT vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,472 in Rocky Hill, CT, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 27% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,707 per month in Rocky Hill, CT and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rocky Hill, CT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Rocky Hill, CT and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,472 in Rocky Hill, CT and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,472 in Rocky Hill, CT to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Rocky Hill, CT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.