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

🙂 Solo nomad: Tempe, AZ is 0.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Tempe, AZ is 8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.12 $19.12
$20.82 $20.82
-8.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$100 $100
-19.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.93 $11.93
$11.97 $11.97
-0.33%
Cappuccino
$5.43 $5.43
$5.56 $5.56
-2.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.11 $3.11
-10.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.42 $2.42
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$6.86 $6.86
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 $7.19
$8.45 $8.45
-14.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.04 $1.04
-13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.15 $4.15
3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$5.52 $5.52
-4.35%
Eggs
$4.91 $4.91
$4.65 $4.65
5.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.11 $11.11
$14.33 $14.33
-22.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 $11.63
$14.88 $14.88
-21.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.77 $14.77
$19.34 $19.34
-23.63%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$5.17 $5.17
-4.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.71 $1.71
-15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.41 $4.41
-10.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$4.51 $4.51
7.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.53 $2.53
-5.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.74 $2.74
-5.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.43 $2.43
-20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.7 $2.7
-11.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28 $10.28
$15.19 $15.19
-32.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.22 $15.22
$16.42 $16.42
-7.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.35 $2.35
-7.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 $3.36
$3.7 $3.7
-9.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.53 $2.53
-18.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$74.1 $74.1
-18.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.34 $3.34
-19.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.42 $1.42
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.25 $36.25
$25.42 $25.42
42.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-3.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$258 $258
$188 $188
37.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$63.7 $63.7
8.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.6 $82.6
$65.2 $65.2
26.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.31 $30.31
$76.7 $76.7
-60.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.96 $14.96
$13.03 $13.03
14.81%
Cinema Ticket
$12.92 $12.92
$14.93 $14.93
-13.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,098 $1,098
$2,063 $2,063
-46.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.4K $15.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-60.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56 $56
$64.3 $64.3
-12.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.49 $40.49
$52.4 $52.4
-22.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$95.2 $95.2
-8.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$145 $145
-28.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,937 $1,937
$2,378 $2,378
-18.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$1,584 $1,584
11.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,425 $2,425
$4,763 $4,763
-49.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 $1,892
$2,815 $2,815
-32.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,450 $2,450
$3,588 $3,588
-31.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,078 $2,078
$2,490 $2,490
-16.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tempe, AZ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,005 $4,005
$5,275 $5,275
-24.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Tempe, AZ: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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