Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OR and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OR and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Salem, OR is 16.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Salem, OR is 11.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27 $17.27
$20.82 $20.82
-17.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.6 $91.6
$100 $100
-8.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$11.97 $11.97
-17.38%
Cappuccino
$4.65 $4.65
$5.56 $5.56
-16.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.11 $3.11
-18.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.42 $2.42
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.66 $4.66
$6.86 $6.86
-32.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 $6.79
$8.45 $8.45
-19.64%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$4 $4
$4.15 $4.15
-3.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$5.52 $5.52
-29.35%
Eggs
$4.8 $4.8
$4.65 $4.65
3.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.55 $17.55
$14.33 $14.33
22.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.18 $13.18
$14.88 $14.88
-11.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.82 $16.82
$19.34 $19.34
-13.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$5.17 $5.17
-17.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.71 $1.71
-13.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.41 $4.41
-17.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$4.51 $4.51
-16.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.74 $2.74
-21.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.43 $2.43
-20.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.7 $2.7
-37.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.61 $10.61
$15.19 $15.19
-30.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.87 $12.87
$16.42 $16.42
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$2.35 $2.35
-31.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.7 $3.7
-21.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.53 $2.53
-33.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.91 $39.91
$74.1 $74.1
-46.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.34 $3.34
2.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.42 $1.42
-15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.4 $39.4
$25.42 $25.42
55.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.08 $1.08
-7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-13.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$188 $188
43.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$63.7 $63.7
-14.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.2 $77.2
$65.2 $65.2
18.44%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.8 $53.8
$76.7 $76.7
-29.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 $13.02
$14.93 $14.93
-12.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,308 $1,308
$2,063 $2,063
-36.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.65%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.74 $46.74
$64.3 $64.3
-27.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 $52.2
$52.4 $52.4
-0.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86 $86
$95.2 $95.2
-9.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 $81.5
$145 $145
-43.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,512 $1,512
$2,378 $2,378
-36.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$1,584 $1,584
-13.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,867 $2,867
$4,763 $4,763
-39.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,083 $2,083
$2,815 $2,815
-25.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,083 $3,083
$3,588 $3,588
-14.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,064 $3,064
$2,490 $2,490
23.05%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Salem, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,762 $3,762
$5,275 $5,275
-28.68%
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 Salem, OR: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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