Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: University Place, WA is 13.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: University Place, WA is 3.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.74 $16.74
$20.82 $20.82
-19.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 $117
$100 $100
16.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.63 $12.63
$11.97 $11.97
5.51%
Cappuccino
$5.88 $5.88
$5.56 $5.56
5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.11 $3.11
-4.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.42 $2.42
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.96 $8.96
$6.86 $6.86
30.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.01 $12.01
$8.45 $8.45
42.13%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.23 $4.23
$4.15 $4.15
1.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$5.52 $5.52
-50.00%
Eggs
$4.9 $4.9
$4.65 $4.65
5.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 $11.34
$14.33 $14.33
-20.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.39 $16.39
$14.88 $14.88
10.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.88 $18.88
$19.34 $19.34
-2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$5.17 $5.17
1.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$4.41 $4.41
11.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.51 $4.51
-17.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.53 $2.53
28.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.74 $2.74
3.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.43 $2.43
-20.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.7 $2.7
10.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.15 $11.15
$15.19 $15.19
-26.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.68 $17.68
$16.42 $16.42
7.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.7 $3.7
-6.22%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.34 $3.34
-22.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.42 $1.42
38.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.53 $29.53
$25.42 $25.42
16.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.08 $1.08
10.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 $155
$188 $188
-17.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$63.7 $63.7
-17.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.5 $88.5
$65.2 $65.2
35.74%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.69 $42.69
$76.7 $76.7
-44.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.13 $18.13
$14.93 $14.93
21.43%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,105 $2,105
$2,063 $2,063
2.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.5K $29.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-24.63%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 $58.7
$64.3 $64.3
-8.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.41 $37.41
$52.4 $52.4
-28.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 $98.9
$95.2 $95.2
3.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 $1,597
$2,378 $2,378
-32.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 $1,369
$1,584 $1,584
-13.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,623 $2,623
$4,763 $4,763
-44.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,224 $2,224
$2,815 $2,815
-20.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,536 $2,536
$3,588 $3,588
-29.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,086 $2,086
$2,490 $2,490
-16.23%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
University Place, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,883 $7,883
$5,275 $5,275
49.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for University Place, WA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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