Cost of Living Comparison Between Syracuse, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Syracuse, NY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Syracuse, NY is 1.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.2% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Syracuse, NY is 1.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23 $17.23
$20.82 $20.82
-17.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.4 $95.4
$100 $100
-4.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.51 $11.51
$11.97 $11.97
-3.84%
Cappuccino
$5.92 $5.92
$5.56 $5.56
6.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$3.11 $3.11
-30.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.42 $2.42
-24.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 $6.69
$6.86 $6.86
-2.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42 $7.42
$8.45 $8.45
-12.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.79 $3.79
$4.15 $4.15
-8.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$5.52 $5.52
-0.54%
Eggs
$4.41 $4.41
$4.65 $4.65
-5.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 $12.61
$14.33 $14.33
-12.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.3 $13.3
$14.88 $14.88
-10.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.19 $17.19
$19.34 $19.34
-11.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$5.17 $5.17
14.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.71 $1.71
-28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.46 $5.46
$4.41 $4.41
23.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.14 $6.14
$4.51 $4.51
36.14%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.53 $2.53
60.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.74 $2.74
41.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.43 $2.43
12.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.7 $2.7
-10.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.64 $12.64
$15.19 $15.19
-16.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$16.42 $16.42
-8.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.35 $2.35
25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64 $4.64
$3.7 $3.7
25.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.53 $2.53
7.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$113 $113
$74.1 $74.1
52.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.79 $3.79
$3.34 $3.34
13.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 $2
$1.42 $1.42
40.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.85 $29.85
$25.42 $25.42
17.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K $28.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-11.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 $234
$188 $188
24.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$63.7 $63.7
-9.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.9 $73.9
$65.2 $65.2
13.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.8 $53.8
$76.7 $76.7
-29.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.15 $34.15
$13.03 $13.03
162.09%
Cinema Ticket
$14.86 $14.86
$14.93 $14.93
-0.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,697 $1,697
$2,063 $2,063
-17.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K $17.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-54.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 $55.2
$64.3 $64.3
-14.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.91 $48.91
$52.4 $52.4
-6.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 $95.9
$95.2 $95.2
0.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 $123
$145 $145
-14.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,794 $1,794
$2,378 $2,378
-24.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,467 $1,467
$1,584 $1,584
-7.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,492 $3,492
$4,763 $4,763
-26.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,404 $2,404
$2,815 $2,815
-14.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 $3,792
$3,588 $3,588
5.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,818 $3,818
$2,490 $2,490
53.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Syracuse, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,560 $3,560
$5,275 $5,275
-32.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

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

Last update for Syracuse, NY: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.