Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacoma, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacoma, WA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Tacoma, WA is 0.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Tacoma, WA is 5.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 $16.69
$20.82 $20.82
-19.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3 $72.3
$100 $100
-27.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.48 $12.48
$11.97 $11.97
4.26%
Cappuccino
$6 $6
$5.56 $5.56
7.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 $2.9
$3.11 $3.11
-6.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.42 $2.42
-6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.64 $7.64
$6.86 $6.86
11.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.88 $11.88
$8.45 $8.45
40.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.04 $1.04
11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.15 $4.15
-1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.12 $8.12
$5.52 $5.52
47.10%
Eggs
$4.95 $4.95
$4.65 $4.65
6.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.63 $11.63
$14.33 $14.33
-18.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.37 $16.37
$14.88 $14.88
10.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$19.34 $19.34
-2.64%
Apples (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$5.17 $5.17
-0.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.41 $4.41
13.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$4.51 $4.51
11.97%
Potato (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.53 $2.53
33.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.74 $2.74
4.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2 $2
$2.43 $2.43
-17.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.7 $2.7
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.96 $10.96
$15.19 $15.19
-27.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.27 $16.27
$16.42 $16.42
-0.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 $6.34
$3.7 $3.7
71.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.53 $2.53
-0.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.6 $61.6
$74.1 $74.1
-16.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.34 $3.34
-21.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.42 $1.42
16.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.16 $30.16
$25.42 $25.42
18.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.08 $1.08
10.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
12.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
5.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 $230
$188 $188
22.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$63.7 $63.7
14.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.9 $87.9
$65.2 $65.2
34.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.5 $52.5
$76.7 $76.7
-31.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.27 $15.27
$13.03 $13.03
17.19%
Cinema Ticket
$15.78 $15.78
$14.93 $14.93
5.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,119 $2,119
$2,063 $2,063
2.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.1K $32.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-17.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 $59.5
$64.3 $64.3
-7.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.56 $44.56
$52.4 $52.4
-14.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 $87.7
$95.2 $95.2
-7.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$145 $145
-5.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,971 $1,971
$2,378 $2,378
-17.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,789 $1,789
$1,584 $1,584
12.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,129 $3,129
$4,763 $4,763
-34.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,829 $2,829
$2,815 $2,815
0.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,110 $4,110
$3,588 $3,588
14.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,881 $3,881
$2,490 $2,490
55.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tacoma, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,711 $4,711
$5,275 $5,275
-10.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Tacoma, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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