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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Yelm, WA is 12.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Yelm, WA is 24.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.71 $22.71
$20.82 $20.82
9.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 $70.6
$100 $100
-29.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.8 $11.8
$11.97 $11.97
-1.42%
Cappuccino
$6.11 $6.11
$5.56 $5.56
9.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.11 $3.11
6.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.42 $2.42
-2.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.07 $7.07
$6.86 $6.86
3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 $5.86
$8.45 $8.45
-30.65%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.04 $1.04
3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 $3.74
$4.15 $4.15
-9.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$5.52 $5.52
-29.17%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$4.65 $4.65
-9.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.04 $15.04
$14.33 $14.33
4.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.36 $13.36
$14.88 $14.88
-10.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$19.34 $19.34
-20.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$5.17 $5.17
6.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.71 $1.71
12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$4.41 $4.41
-6.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.51 $4.51
-14.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.74 $2.74
14.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.43 $2.43
-26.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.7 $2.7
-44.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.86 $6.86
$15.19 $15.19
-54.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 $15.23
$16.42 $16.42
-7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.35 $2.35
-15.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.7 $3.7
22.70%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 $5.03
$3.34 $3.34
50.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 $2
$1.42 $1.42
40.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$51.9 $51.9
$25.42 $25.42
104.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.08 $1.08
4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.50%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 $126
$188 $188
-33.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53 $53
$63.7 $63.7
-16.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69 $69
$65.2 $65.2
5.89%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.88 $42.88
$76.7 $76.7
-44.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.86 $10.86
$14.93 $14.93
-27.26%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,467 $1,467
$2,063 $2,063
-28.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.8K $29.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.89%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 $51.1
$64.3 $64.3
-20.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 $37.81
$52.4 $52.4
-27.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 $89.5
$95.2 $95.2
-5.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.6 $97.6
$145 $145
-32.56%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,586 $1,586
$2,378 $2,378
-33.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,350 $1,350
$1,584 $1,584
-14.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,620 $2,620
$4,763 $4,763
-45.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,215 $2,215
$2,815 $2,815
-21.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,132 $3,132
$3,588 $3,588
-12.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 $2,293
$2,490 $2,490
-7.91%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Yelm, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,120 $9,120
$5,275 $5,275
72.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

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

Last update for Yelm, WA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.