Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 26.5% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 22.1% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 10.2% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 3.1% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 5.2% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 86.5% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 33.0% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 25.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, clothing, restaurants, groceries, and housing in Chicago are more expensive than in United States. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of United States, you would:
pay 22.1% more for restaurants
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 10.2% more for groceries
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 3.1% more for transportation
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 5.2% more for housing
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 86.5% more for childcare
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 33.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 25.2% more for clothing
|
United States
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$146.00
|
|
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