Cost of Living Comparison Between West Chester, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between West Chester, PA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: West Chester, PA is 4.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: West Chester, PA is 10.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.87 $19.87
$20.82 $20.82
-4.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 $79.9
$100 $100
-20.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.88 $13.88
$11.97 $11.97
15.96%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$5.56 $5.56
-6.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.11 $3.11
-21.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.42 $2.42
-19.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$6.86 $6.86
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.87 $8.87
$8.45 $8.45
4.97%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.04 $1.04
24.04%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.15 $4.15
-11.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$5.52 $5.52
-9.60%
Eggs
$4.85 $4.85
$4.65 $4.65
4.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.81 $10.81
$14.33 $14.33
-24.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 $11.63
$14.88 $14.88
-21.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.52 $17.52
$19.34 $19.34
-9.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$5.17 $5.17
-3.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.71 $1.71
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.41 $4.41
-8.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$4.51 $4.51
-7.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.53 $2.53
13.44%
Onion (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.74 $2.74
41.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.43 $2.43
-29.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.7 $2.7
-4.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68 $11.68
$15.19 $15.19
-23.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.27 $14.27
$16.42 $16.42
-13.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.7 $3.7
-27.57%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.53 $2.53
-13.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 $102
$74.1 $74.1
37.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.34 $3.34
-9.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.42 $1.42
53.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.47 $24.47
$25.42 $25.42
-3.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.08 $1.08
-13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K $32.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
1.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25K $25K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.59%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 $128
$188 $188
-31.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.51 $45.51
$63.7 $63.7
-28.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1 $65.1
$65.2 $65.2
-0.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.06 $45.06
$76.7 $76.7
-41.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.02 $15.02
$14.93 $14.93
0.60%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$2,063 $2,063
6.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.88%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 $62.6
$64.3 $64.3
-2.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.65 $24.65
$52.4 $52.4
-52.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.7 $74.7
$95.2 $95.2
-21.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 $130
$145 $145
-10.24%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 $1,984
$2,378 $2,378
-16.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,819 $1,819
$1,584 $1,584
14.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,488 $3,488
$4,763 $4,763
-26.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,190 $3,190
$2,815 $2,815
13.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$3,588 $3,588
200.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 $2,037
$2,490 $2,490
-18.21%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
West Chester, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,201 $4,201
$5,275 $5,275
-20.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.6
0.30%

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

Last update for West Chester, PA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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