Cost of Living Comparison Between West Hartford, CT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between West Hartford, CT and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: West Hartford, CT is 10.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: West Hartford, CT is 8.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.28 $25.28
$20.82 $20.82
21.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.05 $12.05
$11.97 $11.97
0.67%
Cappuccino
$4.45 $4.45
$5.56 $5.56
-19.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.11 $3.11
-11.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.42 $2.42
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 $6.69
$6.86 $6.86
-2.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 $8.19
$8.45 $8.45
-3.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.04 $1.04
28.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.79 $3.79
$4.15 $4.15
-8.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$5.52 $5.52
-4.89%
Eggs
$5.6 $5.6
$4.65 $4.65
20.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.77 $17.77
$14.33 $14.33
24.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.93 $12.93
$14.88 $14.88
-13.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$19.34 $19.34
-24.10%
Apples (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$5.17 $5.17
29.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.71 $1.71
13.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$4.41 $4.41
35.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$4.51 $4.51
38.36%
Potato (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$2.53 $2.53
72.33%
Onion (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$2.74 $2.74
27.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.43 $2.43
22.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.7 $2.7
-27.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.06 $13.06
$15.19 $15.19
-14.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 $14.98
$16.42 $16.42
-8.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.35 $2.35
-12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.7 $3.7
-31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.5 $61.5
$74.1 $74.1
-17.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.34 $3.34
7.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.42 $1.42
-40.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.59 $29.59
$25.42 $25.42
16.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$188 $188
28.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.7 $72.7
$63.7 $63.7
14.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69 $69
$65.2 $65.2
5.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.14 $43.14
$76.7 $76.7
-43.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.12 $18.12
$13.03 $13.03
39.06%
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$14.93 $14.93
-1.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,528 $1,528
$2,063 $2,063
-25.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K $28.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-27.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 $52.7
$64.3 $64.3
-18.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.38 $38.38
$52.4 $52.4
-26.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.5 $65.5
$95.2 $95.2
-31.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 $149
$145 $145
2.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,715 $2,715
$2,378 $2,378
14.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 $1,336
$1,584 $1,584
-15.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,618 $2,618
$4,763 $4,763
-45.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,249 $2,249
$2,815 $2,815
-20.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,838 $2,838
$3,588 $3,588
-20.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 $2,284
$2,490 $2,490
-8.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
West Hartford, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,134 $6,134
$5,275 $5,275
16.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
6.6
-3.33%

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

Last update for West Hartford, CT: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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