Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Sterling is 24% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Sterling is 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.2 $20.2

$20.82 $20.82

-2.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.9 $85.9

$100 $100

-14.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.33 $13.33

$11.97 $11.97

11.36%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$5.56 $5.56

-4.32%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$3.11 $3.11

-9.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.42 $2.42

-3.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$6.86 $6.86

-13.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.45 $8.45

-6.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.04 $1.04

-5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.15 $4.15

-17.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$5.52 $5.52

-61.41%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$4.65 $4.65

6.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.1 $19.1

$14.33 $14.33

33.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.15 $12.15

$14.88 $14.88

-18.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.33 $18.33

$19.34 $19.34

-5.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.8 $4.8

$5.17 $5.17

-7.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.71 $1.71

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.99 $6.99

$4.41 $4.41

58.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$4.51 $4.51

45.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.53 $2.53

36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.74 $2.74

-1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.43 $2.43

-9.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.7 $2.7

-8.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.77 $8.77

$15.19 $15.19

-42.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 $13.76

$16.42 $16.42

-16.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.1 $5.1

$3.7 $3.7

37.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.34 $3.34

32.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.42 $1.42

-2.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.94 $28.94

$25.42 $25.42

13.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.08 $1.08

-25.00%

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

$26K $26K

$32.4K $32.4K

-19.72%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.07%

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

$209 $209

$188 $188

10.94%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$63.7 $63.7

-17.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 $73.6

$65.2 $65.2

12.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.88 $28.88

$76.7 $76.7

-62.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.93 $14.93

-1.34%

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

$1,721 $1,721

$2,063 $2,063

-16.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.23 $48.23

$64.3 $64.3

-25.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.88 $45.88

$52.4 $52.4

-12.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 $97.4

$95.2 $95.2

2.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$145 $145

-17.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 $1,287

$2,378 $2,378

-45.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 $1,377

$1,584 $1,584

-13.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 $2,007

$4,763 $4,763

-57.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,249 $2,249

$2,815 $2,815

-20.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,820 $2,820

$3,588 $3,588

-21.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,428 $2,428

$2,490 $2,490

-2.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,806 $3,806

$5,275 $5,275

-27.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

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

Last update for Sterling: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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