Cost of Living Comparison Between Stamford, CT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Stamford, CT and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Stamford, CT is 4.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Stamford, CT is 5.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 $16.81
$20.82 $20.82
-19.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$100 $100
-24.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 $9.24
$11.97 $11.97
-22.81%
Cappuccino
$3.83 $3.83
$5.56 $5.56
-31.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$3.11 $3.11
-16.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.32 $6.32
$6.86 $6.86
-7.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15 $8.15
$8.45 $8.45
-3.55%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.04 $1.04
6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.15 $4.15
15.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$9.02 $9.02
$5.52 $5.52
63.41%
Eggs
$3.71 $3.71
$4.65 $4.65
-20.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.65 $15.65
$14.33 $14.33
9.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.47 $10.47
$14.88 $14.88
-29.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.53 $17.53
$19.34 $19.34
-9.36%
Apples (1kg)
$5.55 $5.55
$5.17 $5.17
7.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.71 $1.71
28.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.41 $4.41
-1.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$4.51 $4.51
5.32%
Potato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$2.53 $2.53
69.17%
Onion (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$2.74 $2.74
63.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.43 $2.43
1.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.7 $2.7
-16.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.6 $14.6
$15.19 $15.19
-3.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.74 $18.74
$16.42 $16.42
14.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 $3.64
$3.7 $3.7
-1.62%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.53 $2.53
57.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.23 $30.23
$74.1 $74.1
-59.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 $8.08
$3.34 $3.34
141.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.42 $1.42
42.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.65 $29.65
$25.42 $25.42
16.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.08 $1.08
-13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K $32.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
0.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.41%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 $147
$188 $188
-21.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.02 $43.02
$63.7 $63.7
-32.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 $54.7
$65.2 $65.2
-16.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$110 $110
$76.7 $76.7
42.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.56 $21.56
$13.03 $13.03
65.46%
Cinema Ticket
$12.94 $12.94
$14.93 $14.93
-13.33%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,411 $1,411
$2,063 $2,063
-31.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.1K $40.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
2.47%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.88 $37.88
$64.3 $64.3
-41.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.52 $23.52
$52.4 $52.4
-55.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 $90.1
$95.2 $95.2
-5.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 $164
$145 $145
13.04%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,947 $2,947
$2,378 $2,378
23.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 $2,298
$1,584 $1,584
45.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,120 $5,120
$4,763 $4,763
7.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,521 $4,521
$2,815 $2,815
60.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,543 $5,543
$3,588 $3,588
54.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,650 $3,650
$2,490 $2,490
46.58%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Stamford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,483 $5,483
$5,275 $5,275
3.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
6.6
-4.55%

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

Last update for Stamford, CT: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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