Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 19.0% more expensive than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.0% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 11.8% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 2.4% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 5.3% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 58.5% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 22.3% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 24.6% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, clothing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and housing in Chicago are more expensive than in Washington.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Washington, you would:
pay 13.0% more for restaurants
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.67
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.36
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.69
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.05
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 11.8% more for groceries
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.73
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.70
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.02
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.61
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.38
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.79
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.94
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.21
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 2.4% less for transportation
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.34
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.97
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,230.18
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.60
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 5.3% more for housing
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.07
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,678.49
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.86
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.02
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 58.5% more for childcare
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,651.91
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,288.69
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 22.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.59
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.24
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.62
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.78
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.67
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 24.6% more for clothing
|
Washington
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.46
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.64
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.80
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$108.76
|
$146.00
|
|
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