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

🙂 Solo nomad: Vancouver, WA is 14.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Vancouver, WA is 15.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.13 $20.13
$20.82 $20.82
-3.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 $79.9
$100 $100
-20.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.01 $14.01
$11.97 $11.97
17.04%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$5.56 $5.56
-3.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$3.11 $3.11
-15.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.42 $2.42
-24.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.66 $6.66
$6.86 $6.86
-2.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$8.45 $8.45
-6.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.36 $4.36
$4.15 $4.15
5.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$5.52 $5.52
-21.01%
Eggs
$3.55 $3.55
$4.65 $4.65
-23.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 $11.34
$14.33 $14.33
-20.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.55 $11.55
$14.88 $14.88
-22.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.86 $16.86
$19.34 $19.34
-12.82%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$5.17 $5.17
-19.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.71 $1.71
-6.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$4.41 $4.41
-38.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$4.51 $4.51
-34.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.53 $2.53
-11.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.74 $2.74
-31.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.43 $2.43
-18.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 $1.64
$2.7 $2.7
-39.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.47 $10.47
$15.19 $15.19
-31.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.19 $11.19
$16.42 $16.42
-31.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.35 $2.35
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.7 $3.7
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.7 $98.7
$74.1 $74.1
33.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.34 $3.34
37.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.42 $1.42
-44.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.19 $24.19
$25.42 $25.42
-4.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.08 $1.08
4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-25.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 $143
$188 $188
-24.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.01 $47.01
$63.7 $63.7
-26.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64 $64
$65.2 $65.2
-1.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.93 $37.93
$76.7 $76.7
-50.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.18 $27.18
$13.03 $13.03
108.60%
Cinema Ticket
$14.53 $14.53
$14.93 $14.93
-2.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$907 $907
$2,063 $2,063
-56.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K $13.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-66.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.1 $41.1
$64.3 $64.3
-36.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.53 $30.53
$52.4 $52.4
-41.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 $88.7
$95.2 $95.2
-6.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 $83.7
$145 $145
-42.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 $1,595
$2,378 $2,378
-32.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,478 $1,478
$1,584 $1,584
-6.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,441 $2,441
$4,763 $4,763
-48.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,152 $2,152
$2,815 $2,815
-23.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,552 $3,552
$3,588 $3,588
-1.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,402 $3,402
$2,490 $2,490
36.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,561 $4,561
$5,275 $5,275
-13.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Vancouver, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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