Cost of Living Comparison Between Scottsdale, AZ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Scottsdale, AZ and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Scottsdale, AZ is 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Scottsdale, AZ is 24.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.29 $18.29
$20.82 $20.82
-12.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78 $78
$100 $100
-22.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.93 $11.93
$11.97 $11.97
-0.33%
Cappuccino
$5.34 $5.34
$5.56 $5.56
-3.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.11 $3.11
-5.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.42 $2.42
-7.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 $5.93
$6.86 $6.86
-13.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17 $7.17
$8.45 $8.45
-15.15%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.04 $1.04
-13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.15 $4.15
-15.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.52 $5.52
-6.34%
Eggs
$4.18 $4.18
$4.65 $4.65
-10.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 $11.16
$14.33 $14.33
-22.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 $11.62
$14.88 $14.88
-21.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.96 $14.96
$19.34 $19.34
-22.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$5.17 $5.17
-14.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.71 $1.71
-14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$4.41 $4.41
-14.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$4.51 $4.51
-6.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.53 $2.53
7.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.74 $2.74
-9.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.43 $2.43
-18.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.7 $2.7
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.25 $9.25
$15.19 $15.19
-39.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.89 $14.89
$16.42 $16.42
-9.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.35 $2.35
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.7 $3.7
-8.38%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.53 $2.53
-10.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.2 $42.2
$74.1 $74.1
-43.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.34 $3.34
-16.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.42 $1.42
-4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.6 $36.6
$25.42 $25.42
43.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.08 $1.08
-5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K $30.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.83%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$261 $261
$188 $188
38.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.8 $70.8
$63.7 $63.7
11.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.5 $79.5
$65.2 $65.2
21.89%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.69 $33.69
$76.7 $76.7
-56.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 $12.78
$14.93 $14.93
-14.40%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,164 $1,164
$2,063 $2,063
-43.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K $15.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-60.52%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 $50.6
$64.3 $64.3
-21.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.24 $41.24
$52.4 $52.4
-21.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 $82.3
$95.2 $95.2
-13.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$145 $145
-16.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,815 $1,815
$2,378 $2,378
-23.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,690 $1,690
$1,584 $1,584
6.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,381 $3,381
$4,763 $4,763
-29.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,724 $2,724
$2,815 $2,815
-3.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,252 $3,252
$3,588 $3,588
-9.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,966 $2,966
$2,490 $2,490
19.11%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Scottsdale, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,836 $5,836
$5,275 $5,275
10.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Scottsdale, AZ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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