Cost of Living Comparison Between State College, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between State College, PA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: State College, PA is 28.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: State College, PA is 32.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.2 $18.2

$20.82 $20.82

-12.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 $50.7

$100 $100

-49.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 $8.79

$11.97 $11.97

-26.57%

Cappuccino

$4.47 $4.47

$5.56 $5.56

-19.60%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.11 $3.11

-15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.42 $2.42

-16.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$6.86 $6.86

-28.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$8.45 $8.45

-18.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.15 $4.15

-18.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$5.52 $5.52

-63.59%

Eggs

$3.99 $3.99

$4.65 $4.65

-14.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 $9.94

$14.33 $14.33

-30.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 $8.61

$14.88 $14.88

-42.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.89 $11.89

$19.34 $19.34

-38.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$5.17 $5.17

-29.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.41 $4.41

14.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.51 $4.51

11.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.53 $2.53

-16.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.74 $2.74

7.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.43 $2.43

-11.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.7 $2.7

-44.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.05 $14.05

$15.19 $15.19

-7.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.42 $16.42

-8.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.35 $2.35

-26.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.45 $7.45

$3.7 $3.7

101.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.53 $2.53

-13.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 $85.5

$74.1 $74.1

15.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.34 $3.34

60.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.42 $1.42

59.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.8 $44.8

$25.42 $25.42

76.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.08 $1.08

-10.19%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.67%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.01%

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

$160 $160

$188 $188

-15.13%

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

$40.02 $40.02

$63.7 $63.7

-37.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$65.2 $65.2

-7.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.35 $25.35

$76.7 $76.7

-66.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.01 $12.01

$14.93 $14.93

-19.56%

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

$917 $917

$2,063 $2,063

-55.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.6K $28.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-27.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.08 $46.08

$64.3 $64.3

-28.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.4 $40.4

$52.4 $52.4

-22.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 $80.6

$95.2 $95.2

-15.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$145 $145

-21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,498 $1,498

$2,378 $2,378

-36.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,170 $1,170

$1,584 $1,584

-26.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,894 $2,894

$4,763 $4,763

-39.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 $2,049

$2,815 $2,815

-27.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,583 $2,583

$3,588 $3,588

-28.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,111 $2,111

$2,490 $2,490

-15.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,336 $4,336

$5,275 $5,275

-17.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for State College, PA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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