Cost of Living Comparison Between Watertown, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Watertown, NY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Watertown, NY is 8.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Watertown, NY is 36.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.65 $13.65

$20.82 $20.82

-34.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.5 $56.5

$100 $100

-43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$11.97 $11.97

-0.33%

Cappuccino

$5.3 $5.3

$5.56 $5.56

-4.68%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$3.11 $3.11

-25.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.42 $2.42

-14.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.41 $5.41

$6.86 $6.86

-21.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$8.45 $8.45

-19.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.04 $1.04

-34.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 $2.37

$4.15 $4.15

-42.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$5.52 $5.52

-14.49%

Eggs

$3.13 $3.13

$4.65 $4.65

-32.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$14.33 $14.33

-7.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.44 $8.44

$14.88 $14.88

-43.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 $11.85

$19.34 $19.34

-38.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.17 $5.17

-24.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.71 $1.71

-4.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$4.41 $4.41

19.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.51 $4.51

12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.53 $2.53

1.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.74 $2.74

26.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.43 $2.43

2.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.7 $2.7

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.95 $13.95

$15.19 $15.19

-8.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.91 $17.91

$16.42 $16.42

9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.35 $2.35

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.7 $3.7

94.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.53 $2.53

-41.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.53 $43.53

$74.1 $74.1

-41.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.34 $3.34

55.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.42 $1.42

56.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.97 $44.97

$25.42 $25.42

76.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.08 $1.08

-15.74%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

2.61%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.70%

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

$198 $198

$188 $188

5.44%

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

$46.75 $46.75

$63.7 $63.7

-26.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$65.2 $65.2

-6.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 $42.31

$76.7 $76.7

-44.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$10.66 $10.66

$14.93 $14.93

-28.60%

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

$901 $901

$2,063 $2,063

-56.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-27.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.59 $45.59

$64.3 $64.3

-29.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.51 $45.51

$52.4 $52.4

-13.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

7.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$145 $145

-20.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 $882

$2,378 $2,378

-62.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$761 $761

$1,584 $1,584

-51.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,695 $1,695

$4,763 $4,763

-64.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$2,815 $2,815

-33.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,438 $1,438

$3,588 $3,588

-59.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,450 $1,450

$2,490 $2,490

-41.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,642 $2,642

$5,275 $5,275

-49.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Watertown, NY: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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