Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 24.4% more expensive than Pennsylvania.
- Restaurants
-
pay 30.4% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 5.8% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 0.2% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 22.2% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 42.9% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 41.8% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 27.7% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, clothing, housing, and groceries in Chicago are more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Pennsylvania, you would:
pay 30.4% more for restaurants
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.53
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.30
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.27
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.76
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 5.8% more for groceries
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.25
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.37
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.35
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.27
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.36
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.43
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.72
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.35
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.45
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 0.2% less for transportation
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.58
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$66.58
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,817.25
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.67
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 22.2% more for housing
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.16
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,357.77
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,179.21
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$136.88
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 42.9% more for childcare
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,481.93
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$35,614.17
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 41.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.58
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.03
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.13
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.60
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.87
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 27.7% more for clothing
|
Pennsylvania
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.27
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.31
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.69
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$103.12
|
$146.00
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Chicago or Pennsylvania. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.