Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Washington, DC is 15.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Washington, DC is 14.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.47 $27.47

$20.82 $20.82

31.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$100 $100

20.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$11.97 $11.97

1.50%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.56 $5.56

4.86%

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

$3.09 $3.09

$3.11 $3.11

-0.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.42 $2.42

15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.86 $6.86

18.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.9 $9.9

$8.45 $8.45

17.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.04 $1.04

14.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.15 $4.15

11.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.52 $5.52

25.54%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$4.65 $4.65

-4.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.73 $17.73

$14.33 $14.33

23.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$14.88 $14.88

4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.42 $19.42

$19.34 $19.34

0.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.17 $5.17

21.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.71 $1.71

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.41 $4.41

20.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.51 $4.51

43.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.53 $2.53

42.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.74 $2.74

33.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.43 $2.43

10.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.7 $2.7

-5.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.45 $12.45

$15.19 $15.19

-18.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.78 $15.78

$16.42 $16.42

-3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.35 $2.35

21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.7 $3.7

25.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.53 $2.53

6.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 $75.8

$74.1 $74.1

2.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.34 $3.34

20.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.42 $1.42

73.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.03 $30.03

$25.42 $25.42

18.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.08 $1.08

-13.89%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.20%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.40%

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

$208 $208

$188 $188

10.27%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$63.7 $63.7

-6.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69 $69

$65.2 $65.2

5.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 $112

$76.7 $76.7

45.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.39 $38.39

$13.03 $13.03

194.63%

Cinema Ticket

$17.1 $17.1

$14.93 $14.93

14.53%

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

$2,695 $2,695

$2,063 $2,063

30.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

3.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.8 $79.8

$64.3 $64.3

24.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$52.4 $52.4

-3.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

9.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$145 $145

-1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,593 $2,593

$2,378 $2,378

9.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,124 $2,124

$1,584 $1,584

34.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,850 $5,850

$4,763 $4,763

22.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,275 $4,275

$2,815 $2,815

51.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,356 $6,356

$3,588 $3,588

77.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,963 $4,963

$2,490 $2,490

99.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,113 $6,113

$5,275 $5,275

15.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.6

-1.82%

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

Last update for Washington, DC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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