Chicago, IL , USA
Editor
March 12, 2023
Chicago is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a vibrant and exciting city to explore. With its bustling downtown, world-class museums, and diverse neighborhoods, Chicago offers something for everyone. The city is also home to a thriving tech scene, with a number of startups and tech companies based in the city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, with a population of over 2.7 million people. The city also boasts a low cost of living, with the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center coming in at just $1,400 per month. Additionally, Chicago is home to a number of coworking spaces, making it easy for digital nomads to find a place to work. With its vibrant culture, low cost of living, and thriving tech scene, Chicago is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking to explore a new city.
Living in Chicago, IL , USA: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
60%
Quality of life -
70%
Cost of living -
75%
Connectivity -
66%
Weather
55
General
| Currency | USD |
| Population (in millions) | 3 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Not Ranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | Same |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Lincoln Park, Lakeview |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 200 |
| Top selling local beer | Goose Island |
| Most popular local dish | Deep dish pizza |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Navy Pier |
| Discount airline | Southwest |
| Major airline | United Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Lyft |
| Primary train stations | Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, LaSalle Street Station |
| Primary airports | O'Hare, Midway, Gary |
| Best rental car company | Enterprise Rent-A-Car |
| Used car costs | 15000 USD |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | 679 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 100 Mbps |
| Power socket type | NEMA 5-15 |
| Supply voltage | 120V |
| Best electronics store | Best Buy |
| Best internet carrier | Comcast |
| Primary cellular carrier | Verizon |
| Average monthly cost for internet | $50.00 |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Walgreens |
| Best restaurant chain | Giordano's |
| The best grocery store | Jewel-Osco |
| The most popular fashion brand | Nordstrom |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $63,902 / year |
| Average annual income | $50,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 10.25% |
| Income tax rate | 8.25% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 30 |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 3.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 200 USD |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | Chase Bank |
| Average tip in restaurant | 15-20% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Very common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 911 (general), 312-746-6000 (police), 312-948-2000 (ambulance), 312-745-FIRE ( |
| Polution per square meter | 11,851 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | 24 |
| Main religion | Christianity |
Quality of life
60%
-
34%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
27%
Property to income -
66%
Crime -
65%
Healthcare -
66%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $5,475 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 5.63% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | $1,785 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | $25,787 |
Cost of living
70%
-
Purchasing Power
132%
-
Rent
59%
-
Food
76%
-
Restaurant
83%
-
Workspace
49%
-
Transport
42%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | $2,000.35 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | $1,438.85 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | $4,061.90 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | $2,547.73 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | $10.71 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | $0.90 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | $3.27 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | $3.99 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | $14.41 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | $2.44 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | $2.82 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | $4.25 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | $15.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | $11.55 |
| Apples (1kg) | $5.46 |
| Oranges (1kg) | $4.20 |
| Potato (1kg) | $2.35 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.91 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | $4.38 |
| Tomato (1kg) | $4.56 |
| Banana (1kg) | $1.65 |
| Onion (1kg) | $2.27 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | $15.97 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | $20.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | $80.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | $10.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | $6.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | $7.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | $2.52 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | $2.10 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $5.15 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | $165.61 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | $0.33 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $68.00 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $63.94 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | $10.71 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | $15.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | $2.50 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | $80.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1.13 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | $23,197.50 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | $24,669.44 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $3.50 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $2.11 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $30.00 |
