Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 18.1% more expensive than New York.
- Restaurants
-
pay 25.1% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 2.2% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 7.5% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 0.5% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 68.3% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.8% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 25.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, clothing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Chicago are more expensive than in New York. Expenses including transportation and housing are lower in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of New York, you would:
pay 25.1% more for restaurants
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.04
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.50
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.37
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.83
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 2.2% more for groceries
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.74
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.35
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.05
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.87
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.18
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.36
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.80
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.36
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.54
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.49
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 7.5% less for transportation
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.60
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$97.65
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,535.81
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.98
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 0.5% less for housing
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$63.86
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,925.71
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,646.33
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$138.03
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 68.3% more for childcare
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,553.18
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,861.84
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 13.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.09
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.84
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$13.68
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$63.42
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.22
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 25.2% more for clothing
|
New York
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.08
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.74
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$82.58
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.43
|
$146.00
|
|
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