Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in University Place, WA: $2,876 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

137

Cost of Living Index in University Place, WA
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University Place, WA Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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University Place, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,876

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,876 per month in University Place, WA vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

University Place, WA $2,876
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $4,279 per month in University Place, WA vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

University Place, WA $4,279
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,682 per month in University Place, WA vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

University Place, WA $5,682
Chicago, IL $6,019

University Place, WA is about 6% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both University Place, WA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – University Place, WA by 113%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.38 $23.38

$20.39 $20.39

14.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$88.6 $88.6

13.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$12.85 $12.85

-5.45%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.78 $5.78

5.19%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.74 $2.74

13.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.26 $2.26

38.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.88 $6.88

15.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$9.24 $9.24

-14.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.26 $1.26

-12.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.55 $3.55

14.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.95 $5.95

$5.38 $5.38

10.59%

Eggs

$4.97 $4.97

$4.55 $4.55

9.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.11 $16.11

$13.65 $13.65

18.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.19 $18.19

$14.07 $14.07

29.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.33 $23.33

$18.06 $18.06

29.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.16 $5.16

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.98 $1.98

-10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$3.88 $3.88

43.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.83 $4.83

-7.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.81 $2.81

23.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.67 $2.67

5.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.07 $2.07

-5.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.03 $3.03

0.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.43 $12.43

$13.90 $13.90

-10.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.17 $18.17

$15.05 $15.05

20.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.63 $2.63

-33.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.45 $3.45

43.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.43 $2.43

-12.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.8 $65.8

$75.3 $75.3

-12.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.17 $3.17

-16.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.49 $30.49

$24.90 $24.90

22.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.28 $1.28

13.28%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

-22.03%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

-1.17%

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

$233 $233

$192 $192

21.34%

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

$68.7 $68.7

$69.6 $69.6

-1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.6 $88.6

$62.2 $62.2

42.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.56 $39.56

$47.79 $47.79

-17.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.88 $17.88

$17.83 $17.83

0.28%

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

$2,087 $2,087

$1,815 $1,815

15.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K $27.9K

$40.6K $40.6K

-31.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 $60.3

$66.2 $66.2

-8.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.90 $44.90

$51.4 $51.4

-12.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 $130

$103 $103

25.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$143 $143

-10.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$2,531 $2,531

-37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,280 $1,280

$1,621 $1,621

-21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 $2,599

$4,828 $4,828

-46.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,111 $2,111

$2,734 $2,734

-22.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,918 $2,918

$4,163 $4,163

-29.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,644 $2,644

$2,723 $2,723

-2.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,149 $8,149

$4,924 $4,924

65.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.78

-2.06%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

University Place, WA

$1.3K 44.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 26.6% $341

Groceries & Markets

University Place, WA

$505 17.6%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 13% $66

Monthly Utilities & Internet

University Place, WA

$390 13.6%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 17% $66

Eating Out

University Place, WA

$377 13.1%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 8.7% $33

Clothing & Footwear

University Place, WA

$163 5.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 0.3% $0.5

Getting Around

University Place, WA

$85 3%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 13.2% $11

Sport & Entertainment

University Place, WA

$75 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 10.8% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,573 in University Place, WA versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 66% higher in University Place, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in University Place, WA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $505 vs $439 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 University Place, WA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

09:10 9:10 AM

11:10 11:10 AM

2 h ahead of University Place, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

34,866

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

University Place, WA Chicago, IL 2,800 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

University Place, WA
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

University Place, WA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,876 in University Place, WA, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – University Place, WA comes out roughly 6% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,314 per month in University Place, WA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in University Place, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,573 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in University Place, WA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,876 in University Place, WA to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.