Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sheridan, WY and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Sheridan, WY: $2,281 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sheridan, WY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,281
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,185
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,281 per month in Sheridan, WY vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Sheridan, WY $2,281
  • Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $3,716 per month in Sheridan, WY vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Sheridan, WY $3,716
  • Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $5,150 per month in Sheridan, WY vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Sheridan, WY $5,150
  • Chicago, IL $6,077

Sheridan, WY is about 28% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Sheridan, WY and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Sheridan, WY by 69%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.48 $19.48
$21.58 $21.58
-9.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.6 $77.6
$88.7 $88.7
-12.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 $11.35
$13.20 $13.20
-14.02%
Cappuccino
$5.33 $5.33
$5.59 $5.59
-4.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.63 $2.63
33.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.26 $2.26
-30.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$7.11 $7.11
-13.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 $7.21
$9.23 $9.23
-21.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.28 $1.28
7.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.84 $3.84
2.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$5.07 $5.07
-15.58%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$4.84 $4.84
-11.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.07 $14.07
$14.17 $14.17
-0.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$14.61 $14.61
-35.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.01 $15.01
$18.76 $18.76
-19.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$5.19 $5.19
-5.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.00 $2.00
-21.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$4.00 $4.00
6.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$4.98 $4.98
-6.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.79 $2.79
-26.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.65 $2.65
11.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.13 $2.13
82.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.09 $3.09
-4.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.79 $9.79
$16.05 $16.05
-39.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.05 $17.05
$15.20 $15.20
12.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.62 $2.62
-24.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$3.46 $3.46
-0.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.47 $2.47
-19.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.6 $78.6
$75.1 $75.1
4.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.21 $3.21
-3.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.39 $1.39
28.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.79 $29.79
$25.02 $25.02
19.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.24 $1.24
-12.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K $35.6K
$37.2K $37.2K
-4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$25.8K $25.8K
39.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$192 $192
-2.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.6 $58.6
$67.8 $67.8
-13.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.0 $81.0
$60.9 $60.9
32.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.05 $42.05
$53.6 $53.6
-21.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.58 $24.58
$27.90 $27.90
-11.90%
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 $14.88
$17.80 $17.80
-16.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,417 $1,417
$1,554 $1,554
-8.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$31.4K $31.4K
-26.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.63 $44.63
$67.9 $67.9
-34.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77 $42.77
$50.8 $50.8
-15.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.3 $58.3
$101 $101
-42.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$143 $143
-19.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 $1,608
$2,383 $2,383
-32.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$938 $938
$1,712 $1,712
-45.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,475 $2,475
$4,674 $4,674
-47.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,177 $2,177
$2,738 $2,738
-20.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,091 $3,091
$4,158 $4,158
-25.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,146 $3,146
$2,691 $2,691
16.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sheridan, WY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,513 $4,513
$4,894 $4,894
-7.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.56
6.77
11.67%

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

Last update for Sheridan, WY: October 10, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sheridan, WY
$938
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 82.5% $774
Groceries & Markets
Sheridan, WY
$410
Chicago, IL
$451 10.2% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sheridan, WY
$327
Chicago, IL
$321 1.7% $5.7
Eating Out
Sheridan, WY
$319
Chicago, IL
$353 10.5% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Sheridan, WY
$118
Chicago, IL
$164 38.9% $46
Getting Around
Sheridan, WY
$99
Chicago, IL
$95 3.5% $3.4
Sport & Entertainment
Sheridan, WY
$72
Chicago, IL
$89 24.2% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Sheridan, WY 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 8% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Sheridan, WY versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $451 – making Sheridan, WY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Sheridan, WY
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
10:47 10:47 AM
11:47 11:47 AM
1 h ahead of Sheridan, WY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,154
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sheridan, WY Chicago, IL 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sheridan, WY
  • 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
Sheridan, WY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sheridan, WY and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,281 in Sheridan, WY, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 40% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Sheridan, WY compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,422 per month in Sheridan, WY and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sheridan, WY and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sheridan, WY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 10% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Sheridan, WY and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,281 in Sheridan, WY and $3,185 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Sheridan, WY and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,281 in Sheridan, WY to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sheridan, WY or Chicago, IL safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sheridan, WY and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Sheridan, WY. 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.

Sheridan, WY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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