Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton, NY and Chicago, IL

For one person, living costs are similar in Southampton, NY and in Chicago, IL: $2,919 and $3,037 a month, rent and utilities included.

Southampton, NY, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Southampton, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,919
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,919 per month in Southampton, NY vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Southampton, NY $2,919
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,134 per month in Southampton, NY vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Southampton, NY $4,134
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,349 per month in Southampton, NY vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Southampton, NY $5,349
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Southampton, NY is about 4% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Southampton, NY and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Southampton, NY by 114%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.92 $24.92
$20.71 $20.71
20.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$89.2 $89.2
12.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.22 $11.22
$13.19 $13.19
-14.94%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$5.66 $5.66
-4.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.64 $2.64
-19.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.28 $2.28
-32.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.10 $8.10
$6.87 $6.87
17.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77 $7.77
$8.84 $8.84
-12.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.25 $1.25
1.60%
White Bread (500g)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.72 $3.72
16.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.55 $7.55
$5.39 $5.39
40.07%
Eggs
$5.90 $5.90
$4.74 $4.74
24.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.50 $12.50
$13.84 $13.84
-9.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.75 $11.75
$14.40 $14.40
-18.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$18.38 $18.38
-5.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$5.22 $5.22
4.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.98 $1.98
-10.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.18 $6.18
$4.06 $4.06
52.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$4.97 $4.97
22.94%
Potato (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$2.67 $2.67
109.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.66 $2.66
45.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.24 $2.24
24.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.13 $3.13
-10.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.47 $11.47
$13.82 $13.82
-17.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.03 $24.03
$14.88 $14.88
61.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.54 $2.54
-32.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38 $5.38
$3.51 $3.51
53.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.43 $2.43
-29.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.0 $51.0
$73.5 $73.5
-30.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.18 $3.18
-7.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.39 $1.39
43.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.61 $23.61
$25.03 $25.03
-5.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.20 $1.20
-10.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$35.0K $35.0K
-21.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.7K $26.7K
-3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$194 $194
8.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.6 $75.6
$69.5 $69.5
8.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$61.6 $61.6
-4.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.20 $40.20
$47.90 $47.90
-16.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.31 $14.31
$17.81 $17.81
-19.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,495 $2,495
$1,794 $1,794
39.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$31.9K $31.9K
-26.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.84 $40.84
$67.0 $67.0
-39.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.4 $56.4
$52.1 $52.1
8.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.2 $76.2
$102 $102
-24.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 $157
$144 $144
9.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$2,526 $2,526
-37.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,428 $1,428
$1,578 $1,578
-9.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,476 $2,476
$4,738 $4,738
-47.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,954 $1,954
$2,693 $2,693
-27.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,828 $2,828
$4,190 $4,190
-32.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,385 $2,385
$2,768 $2,768
-13.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Southampton, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,931 $4,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.81
-0.88%

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

Last update for Southampton, NY: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Southampton, NY
$1.4K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 10.5% $151
Groceries & Markets
Southampton, NY
$488
Chicago, IL
$447 8.4% $41
Eating Out
Southampton, NY
$369
Chicago, IL
$345 6.4% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Southampton, NY
$346
Chicago, IL
$326 5.9% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Southampton, NY
$149
Chicago, IL
$164 10.2% $15
Getting Around
Southampton, NY
$71
Chicago, IL
$93 32% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Southampton, NY
$69
Chicago, IL
$84 21.3% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,587 in Southampton, NY versus $2,526 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Southampton, NY versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $488 vs $447 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Southampton, NY
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
12:07 12:07 PM
11:07 11:07 AM
1 h behind Southampton, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,036
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Southampton, NY Chicago, IL 1,270 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Southampton, NY
  • 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
Southampton, NY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Southampton, NY and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,919 in Southampton, NY, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 4% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Southampton, NY compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,378 per month in Southampton, NY and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Southampton, NY and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Southampton, NY, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,587 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Southampton, NY and $89 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 $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,919 in Southampton, NY and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Southampton, NY and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,919 in Southampton, NY to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Southampton, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?