Cost of Living Comparison Between Silver Spring, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Silver Spring, MD and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Silver Spring, MD is 3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Silver Spring, MD is 6.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.26 $20.26
$20.82 $20.82
-2.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 $89.9
$100 $100
-10.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 $8.86
$11.97 $11.97
-25.98%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$5.56 $5.56
-2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.11 $3.11
-5.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.42 $2.42
5.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.63 $6.63
$6.86 $6.86
-3.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.27 $8.27
$8.45 $8.45
-2.13%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$5.02 $5.02
$4.15 $4.15
20.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$5.52 $5.52
7.97%
Eggs
$5.82 $5.82
$4.65 $4.65
25.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.28 $18.28
$14.33 $14.33
27.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.43 $15.43
$14.88 $14.88
3.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.52 $22.52
$19.34 $19.34
16.44%
Apples (1kg)
$7.47 $7.47
$5.17 $5.17
44.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.71 $1.71
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.05 $8.05
$4.41 $4.41
82.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$4.51 $4.51
49.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.53 $2.53
33.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.74 $2.74
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.43 $2.43
-6.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.7 $2.7
-8.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.81 $10.81
$15.19 $15.19
-28.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 $15.23
$16.42 $16.42
-7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 $4.93
$3.7 $3.7
33.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.1 $5.1
$2.53 $2.53
101.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$173 $173
$74.1 $74.1
132.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.55 $4.55
$3.34 $3.34
36.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.42 $1.42
-4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.76 $29.76
$25.42 $25.42
17.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26K $26K
$32.4K $32.4K
-19.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$188 $188
11.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2 $52.2
$63.7 $63.7
-18.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$65.2 $65.2
1.96%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.59 $33.59
$76.7 $76.7
-56.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.18 $22.18
$13.03 $13.03
70.22%
Cinema Ticket
$16.74 $16.74
$14.93 $14.93
12.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,196 $2,196
$2,063 $2,063
6.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$59.7K $59.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
52.47%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.61 $47.61
$64.3 $64.3
-25.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.02 $36.02
$52.4 $52.4
-31.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 $96.1
$95.2 $95.2
0.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$145 $145
-15.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,936 $1,936
$2,378 $2,378
-18.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 $1,162
$1,584 $1,584
-26.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,761 $3,761
$4,763 $4,763
-21.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,502 $2,502
$2,815 $2,815
-11.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,384 $5,384
$3,588 $3,588
50.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,377 $4,377
$2,490 $2,490
75.77%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Silver Spring, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,790 $4,790
$5,275 $5,275
-9.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

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

Last update for Silver Spring, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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