Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in State College, PA: $2,426 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

117

Cost of Living Index in State College, PA
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State College, PA Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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State College, PA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,426

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,426 per month in State College, PA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

State College, PA $2,426
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,582 per month in State College, PA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

State College, PA $3,582
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,737 per month in State College, PA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

State College, PA $4,737
Chicago, IL $6,115

State College, PA is about 23% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both State College, PA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – State College, PA by 79%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.30 $15.30

$20.65 $20.65

-25.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.1 $67.1

$90.2 $90.2

-25.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.28 $9.28

$12.94 $12.94

-28.28%

Cappuccino

$3.46 $3.46

$5.60 $5.60

-38.21%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$2.64 $2.64

-4.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.27 $2.27

-22.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.98 $6.98

-1.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.51 $7.51

$8.83 $8.83

-14.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.27 $1.27

-11.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.80 $3.80

-19.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$5.30 $5.30

-61.51%

Eggs

$3.85 $3.85

$4.76 $4.76

-19.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 $9.85

$13.96 $13.96

-29.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 $9.19

$14.61 $14.61

-37.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.07 $18.07

$18.77 $18.77

-3.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.19 $5.19

-32.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.98 $1.98

-32.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.93 $3.93

14.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$4.96 $4.96

-22.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.76 $2.76

-36.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.76 $2.76

-10.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.22 $2.22

1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.98 $2.98

-48.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.73 $11.73

$14.02 $14.02

-16.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.38 $14.38

$15.28 $15.28

-5.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.58 $2.58

-34.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.50 $3.50

6.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.47 $2.47

-9.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.9 $85.9

$74.8 $74.8

14.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.34 $3.34

49.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.43 $1.43

-24.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.85 $22.85

$24.32 $24.32

-6.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-21.20%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.81%

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

$160 $160

$193 $193

-17.03%

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

$40.38 $40.38

$68.3 $68.3

-40.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 $59.3

$61.3 $61.3

-3.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.65 $24.65

$54.1 $54.1

-54.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$16.77 $16.77

$17.74 $17.74

-5.47%

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

$1,034 $1,034

$1,652 $1,652

-37.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K $27.4K

$31.1K $31.1K

-11.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.57 $46.57

$66.1 $66.1

-29.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.71 $40.71

$51.2 $51.2

-20.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 $81.1

$100 $100

-18.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$141 $141

-6.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,776 $1,776

$2,446 $2,446

-27.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,270 $1,270

$1,678 $1,678

-24.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,825 $2,825

$4,717 $4,717

-40.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,170 $2,170

$2,795 $2,795

-22.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,365 $2,365

$4,105 $4,105

-42.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,083 $2,083

$2,650 $2,650

-21.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

$4,866 $4,866

-13.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

6.81

-5.14%

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

Last update for State College, PA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

State College, PA

$1.3K 52.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 32.1% $408

Groceries & Markets

State College, PA

$340 14%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 32.1% $109

Monthly Utilities & Internet

State College, PA

$260 10.7%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 24.1% $63

Eating Out

State College, PA

$258 10.6%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 33% $85

Clothing & Footwear

State College, PA

$135 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 19.2% $26

Getting Around

State College, PA

$105 4.3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 9.5% $10

Sport & Entertainment

State College, PA

$58 2.4%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 54% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,776 in State College, PA versus $2,446 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 15% 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 $67.0 in State College, PA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $449 – making State College, PA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 State College, PA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

06:52 6:52 AM

05:52 5:52 AM

1 h behind State College, PA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

40,501

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

State College, PA Chicago, IL 820 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

State College, PA
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

State College, PA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,426 in State College, PA, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 29% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,639 per month in State College, PA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in State College, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in State College, PA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,426 in State College, PA and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,426 in State College, PA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with State College, PA. 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.