Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surprise, AZ and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Surprise, AZ: $1,244 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $21,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

60

Cost of Living Index in Surprise, AZ
Learn more

Surprise, AZ Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Surprise, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$1,244

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,244 per month in Surprise, AZ vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Surprise, AZ $1,244
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,511 per month in Surprise, AZ vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Surprise, AZ $3,511
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,778 per month in Surprise, AZ vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Surprise, AZ $5,778
Chicago, IL $5,999

Surprise, AZ is about 59% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Surprise, AZ sits 9% below the global median, while Chicago, IL is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.95 $19.95

$20.71 $20.71

-3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 $84.8

$89.2 $89.2

-4.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 $9.71

$13.19 $13.19

-26.38%

Cappuccino

$5.93 $5.93

$5.66 $5.66

4.77%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$2.64 $2.64

14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.28 $2.28

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.87 $6.87

-11.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.84 $8.84

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.25 $1.25

-37.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.72 $3.72

4.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.39 $5.39

-38.96%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.74 $4.74

-9.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.32 $13.32

$13.84 $13.84

-3.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.60 $9.60

$14.40 $14.40

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$18.38 $18.38

-18.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$5.22 $5.22

1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.98 $1.98

-3.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.06 $4.06

3.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$4.97 $4.97

-47.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.67 $2.67

26.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.66 $2.66

20.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.24 $2.24

-33.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$3.13 $3.13

-47.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.24 $11.24

$13.82 $13.82

-18.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 $13.97

$14.88 $14.88

-6.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.54 $2.54

-31.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.51 $3.51

-12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.18 $3.18

-12.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.39 $1.39

-2.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.82 $32.82

$25.03 $25.03

31.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.20 $1.20

-7.50%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

0.02%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-5.48%

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

$227 $227

$194 $194

16.61%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$69.5 $69.5

-13.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$61.6 $61.6

6.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 $58.9

$47.90 $47.90

23.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 $11.18

$17.81 $17.81

-37.23%

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

$1,020 $1,020

$1,794 $1,794

-43.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K $22.9K

$31.9K $31.9K

-28.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$67.0 $67.0

-22.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.57 $45.57

$52.1 $52.1

-12.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 $71.6

$102 $102

-29.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.7 $72.7

$144 $144

-49.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 $2,070

$4,738 $4,738

-56.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,015 $3,015

$2,693 $2,693

11.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,768 $2,768

-42.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,325 $4,325

$4,931 $4,931

-12.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.81

-2.64%

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

Last update for Surprise, AZ: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Surprise, AZ

$363 29.2%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 23.4% $85

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Surprise, AZ

$353 28.4%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 7.7% $27

Eating Out

Surprise, AZ

$329 26.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 4.9% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Surprise, AZ

$109 8.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 50.8% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Surprise, AZ

$81 6.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 2.8% $2.2

Getting Around

Surprise, AZ

$9.5 * 0.8%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 881% $84

Accommodation & Living

Surprise, AZ

- * 0%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 14% 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 $85 in Surprise, AZ versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $447 – making Surprise, AZ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Surprise, AZ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

19:35 7:35 PM

20:35 8:35 PM

1 h ahead of Surprise, AZ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

143,148

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Surprise, AZ Chicago, IL 2,350 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Surprise, AZ
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

Surprise, AZ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,244 in Surprise, AZ, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Surprise, AZ comes out roughly 59% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,866 per month in Surprise, AZ and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85 in Surprise, AZ and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surprise, AZ, where all-in costs run around $1,244, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Surprise, AZ it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,244 in Surprise, AZ to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Surprise, AZ. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.