Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Scottsdale, AZ: $2,911 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

142

Cost of Living Index in Scottsdale, AZ
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Scottsdale, AZ Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Scottsdale, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,911

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Scottsdale, AZ 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 Scottsdale, AZ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,911 per month in Scottsdale, AZ vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Scottsdale, AZ $2,911
Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $4,339 per month in Scottsdale, AZ vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Scottsdale, AZ $4,339
Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $5,767 per month in Scottsdale, AZ vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Scottsdale, AZ $5,767
Chicago, IL $6,077

Scottsdale, AZ is about 9% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Scottsdale, AZ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Scottsdale, AZ by 116%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$21.58 $21.58

-9.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.9 $85.9

$88.7 $88.7

-3.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.83 $12.83

$13.20 $13.20

-2.80%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$5.59 $5.59

-4.83%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$2.63 $2.63

11.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.26 $2.26

5.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$7.11 $7.11

-14.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$9.23 $9.23

-14.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.28 $1.28

-21.09%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.84 $3.84

5.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.07 $5.07

-1.97%

Eggs

$4.49 $4.49

$4.84 $4.84

-7.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$14.17 $14.17

-3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.21 $11.21

$14.61 $14.61

-23.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.13 $17.13

$18.76 $18.76

-8.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.19 $5.19

-15.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.00 $2.00

-6.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$4.00 $4.00

-5.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.98 $4.98

-16.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.79 $2.79

1.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.65 $2.65

6.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.13 $2.13

-0.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.09 $3.09

-14.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.65 $10.65

$16.05 $16.05

-33.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 $13.49

$15.20 $15.20

-11.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.62 $2.62

-4.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.46 $3.46

-3.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.47 $2.47

-8.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 $42.51

$75.1 $75.1

-43.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.21 $3.21

-13.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.39 $1.39

-3.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.81 $35.81

$25.02 $25.02

43.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.24 $1.24

-4.03%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$37.2K $37.2K

-1.43%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

-1.64%

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

$200 $200

$192 $192

4.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$67.8 $67.8

-6.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$60.9 $60.9

23.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.23 $34.23

$53.6 $53.6

-36.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 $10.04

$27.90 $27.90

-64.01%

Cinema Ticket

$13.71 $13.71

$17.80 $17.80

-22.98%

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

$1,238 $1,238

$1,554 $1,554

-20.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.2K $20.2K

$31.4K $31.4K

-35.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$67.9 $67.9

-19.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 $43.13

$50.8 $50.8

-15.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.2 $99.2

$101 $101

-2.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$143 $143

-7.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,387 $2,387

$2,383 $2,383

0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 $1,567

$1,712 $1,712

-8.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,230 $3,230

$4,674 $4,674

-30.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,760 $2,760

$2,738 $2,738

0.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,759 $3,759

$4,158 $4,158

-9.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,744 $4,744

$2,691 $2,691

76.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,671 $5,671

$4,894 $4,894

15.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.77

-2.22%

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

Last update for Scottsdale, AZ: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Scottsdale, AZ

$1.6K 53.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 9.3% $145

Groceries & Markets

Scottsdale, AZ

$406 14%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 11% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Scottsdale, AZ

$339 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 5.4% $18

Eating Out

Scottsdale, AZ

$327 11.2%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 7.9% $26

Clothing & Footwear

Scottsdale, AZ

$149 5.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1% 10% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Scottsdale, AZ

$62 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8% 44.6% $28

Getting Around

Scottsdale, AZ

$61 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 55.9% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,387 in Scottsdale, AZ versus $2,383 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 16% higher in Scottsdale, AZ, 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 $86.0 in Scottsdale, AZ versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $451 – making Scottsdale, AZ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Scottsdale, AZ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

04:06 4:06 AM

06:06 6:06 AM

2 h ahead of Scottsdale, AZ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

241,361

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Scottsdale, AZ Chicago, IL 2,320 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Scottsdale, AZ
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

Scottsdale, AZ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,911 in Scottsdale, AZ, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 9% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,366 per month in Scottsdale, AZ and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Scottsdale, AZ and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,911 in Scottsdale, AZ and $3,185 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 $2,911 in Scottsdale, AZ to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Scottsdale, AZ. 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.