New York
Chicago
Many travelers compare New York and Chicago because both offer skyscrapers, major museums and iconic neighborhoods within 1,150 km (2h30 by plane).In Manhattan you’ll find Broadway and the MoMA, while on Lake Michigan you’ll discover the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago Riverwalk.Both have efficient subways, with rides at €2.70 in NYC and €2.30 in Chicago, and airports well connected to downtown in 30-60 min.Key differences are clear: New York costs more (3-star hotels €200-280) but has more top attractions like the Empire State Building (€41-47).Chicago is more compact (the Loop is 3 km), with views from the Skydeck (€33-41) and urban beaches like North Avenue Beach just 3.5 km from downtown.The climate is harsher in Chicago (January -8°C min), milder in NYC (January -3°C min).In this guide you’ll find concrete comparisons on budget, attractions, food and transport, with prices in €, times in minutes and distances in km.I’ll point you to specific neighborhood names like Williamsburg and Wicker Park, restaurants like Katz’s Delicatessen and Lou Malnati’s, plus tips on the best periods (May/September) and itineraries of 3-7 days.
New York vs Chicago
| Feature | New York | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget | In New York a 3-star hotel in Midtown costs €200-280/night (e.g., Hotel Edison), while a hostel on the Upper West Side starts at €50-80 per bed.Meals: street food (The Halal Guys) €9-12, pizza at Joe’s Pizza €3.50-4.20 per slice, mid-range restaurant (Trattoria Trecolori) €25-40 per dish.Subway: ride €2.70, weekly cap €31.50.Attractions: MoMA €28, Top of the Rock €37-41, 9/11 Museum €31.Daily budget: backpacker €100-150, mid-range €300-450, luxury (5*) €650-1,200 with cocktails at PDT for €14-19. | In Chicago a 3-star in The Loop costs €140-205/night (e.g., Hotel Blake), hostel in River North €35-60.Meals: deep-dish at Lou Malnati’s for 2 at €26-32, Italian beef at Portillo’s €7.90-9.50, restaurant in the West Loop (Girl & the Goat) €28-45 per dish.CTA: train ride €2.30 (Blue/Red Line 24/7).Attractions: Art Institute €30, Skydeck €33-41, architecture cruise €43 (75-90 min).Daily budget: backpacker €80-130, mid-range €220-350, luxury €500-900 with cocktails at The Violet Hour €14-17.✓ Better |
| Main attractions | Top 4 in New York: Empire State Building €41-47 (86th floor, 60-90 min), Statue of Liberty ferry €23 (Liberty Island 3-4 hours with Ellis Island), Met €28 (2-3 hours, masterpieces by Rembrandt), MoMA €28 (1.5-2.5 hours).Extra: High Line free (2.3 km, 45 min), One World Observatory €38-45 (60-90 min).Book time slots between 10:00 and 14:00 for queues <10 min.✓ Better | Top 4 in Chicago: Art Institute €30 (2-3 hours, Hopper’s Nighthawks), Skydeck Willis Tower €33-41 (The Ledge, 60 min), 360 CHICAGO €28-33 (TILT, 60 min) in the John Hancock, Field Museum €28-41 (Sue the T-Rex, 2-3 hours).Free: Millennium Park (Cloud Gate, 30 min) and Lincoln Park Zoo (1-2 hours).Architecture cruise €43 in 75-90 min on the Chicago River. |
| Food and restaurants | In New York try the pastrami at Katz’s Delicatessen for €24-27, the bagel at Russ & Daughters for €6-9, and pizza at Lombardi’s for €18-24 (small Margherita).Markets: Chelsea Market (tacos €4-6) and Eataly Flatiron (pasta €14-20).Fine dining: Le Bernardin menu at €210-280.Street food: Halal Guys platter at €9-12.Desserts: cookie at Levain Bakery €5.50.Book at 19:00 to avoid 30-45 min waits. | In Chicago eat deep-dish at Giordano’s for €24-30 (small), a Chicago-style hot dog at Portillo’s for €4.60-6.50 and the famous burger at Au Cheval for €15.80-18.50.Markets: Time Out Market Chicago (dishes €10-16) and Revival Food Hall (€9-14).Fine dining: Alinea tasting €302-390.Coffee: Intelligentsia cappuccino €4.20-4.80.Jazz club: Green Mill with cover €10-25 and drinks €9-14.In the West Loop on Randolph St book for 20:00. |
| Climate and best time | New York: winter averages 0-6°C (January min -3°C), annual snow ~60 cm; spring (April) 12-18°C; summer (July) 29°C with humidity > 70%; autumn (September) 18-24°C.Rain ~1,200 mm/year spread out.Ideal time: May-June and September-October to walk 10-14 km/day without extreme heat.In December you’ll find Christmas trees at Rockefeller Center and ice rinks with admission €10-25.✓ Better | Chicago: harsh winter with averages -8 to -1°C (January), wind chill down to -15°C, annual snow ~95 cm; spring (May) 16-22°C; summer (July) 28-30°C with a Lake Michigan breeze; autumn (September) 18-23°C.Rain ~950 mm/year.Ideal time: May-June and September for open beaches (from late May to early September) and walks on the Lakefront Trail (29 km) without muggy heat. |
| Transport and how to get there | In New York you arrive at JFK, LGA or EWR.From JFK to downtown: AirTrain + subway €13-14, 60-75 min; flat-rate taxi €65-85 in 45-70 min.From EWR: NJ Transit + AirTrain €14-16 in 35-50 min.Subway 24/7, ride €2.70, weekly cap €31.50.Uber downtown €12-25 for 3-6 km.On foot between Times Square and Central Park: 1.5 km in 18-22 min.✓ Better | In Chicago you land at ORD or MDW.From O’Hare to the Loop: Blue Line in 45 min, €2.30 with Ventra (single ticket from machine ~€4.65); taxi/Uber €33-55 in 30-60 min.From Midway: Orange Line in 25-30 min at €2.30.CTA Red/Blue Line 24/7; bus to Museum Campus (#146) 10-15 min from Michigan Ave.From the Loop to Wrigley Field: 12 km in 25-30 min on the Red Line. |
| Nightlife | In New York bars and clubs close at 04:00 (license).Areas: Lower East Side, Williamsburg, Meatpacking District.Cocktail bars: Death & Co and PDT at €14-19; beer in pubs €6-9.Clubs like Marquee with entry €20-40.Jazz at Village Vanguard €30-40 (75 min).Night travel: subway 24/7, ride €2.70; taxi base €3 + metered fare, 4 km ~€12-16.✓ Better | In Chicago bars close at 02:00 (some with 04:00 licenses on weekends).Areas: River North, Wicker Park, Logan Square.Cocktails at The Violet Hour €14-17, blues at Kingston Mines with cover €15-20, jazz at Jazz Showcase €20-35.Rooftops in the West Loop (e.g., LH on 21) drinks €12-16.Uber for 3 km €10-14 after midnight; Blue/Red Line run 24/7. |
| For families with children | In New York the American Museum of Natural History costs €26 for adults (2-3 hours), Central Park Zoo €17 (60-90 min), and Gulliver’s Gate has been closed since 2020 (skip).Stroller: about 30% of subway stations have elevators; use lines with accessibility (e.g., 34 St-Hudson Yards).Distances: Times Square-MoMA 1.1 km (15 min).Easy food: Shake Shack kids’ menu €6-8.Family restrooms at Brookfield Place (free). | In Chicago the Museum of Science and Industry costs €23-31 (2-3 hours), Shedd Aquarium €37 (2 hours), Lincoln Park Zoo is free (1-2 hours).Maggie Daley Park has huge playgrounds (60-90 min).Distances: Loop-Museum Campus 2.5 km (bus #146 10-15 min).Subway with elevators widespread in central stations (Monroe, Jackson).Family-friendly restaurants on Navy Pier (meals €10-15).✓ Better |
| Beaches and nature | In New York Coney Island is 23 km from Times Square (D/Q subway 45-55 min, beach free).Rockaway Beach at 25 km (A + Shuttle 60-70 min).Parks: Central Park 341 ha (3.4 km long, 2-3 hours on foot), Prospect Park 213 ha, High Line 2.3 km.Bike rental Citi Bike €13-15/day (day pass) with stations at Hudson Yards and SoHo. | In Chicago urban beaches are minutes away: North Avenue Beach 3.5 km from the Loop (bus #151 15 min), Montrose Beach 9 km (bus #78 25-30 min).The Lakefront Trail is 29 km long (Divvy rental €5-7/hour).Parks: Grant Park 129 ha, Lincoln Park 489 ha, Millennium Park 9.9 ha.Swimming season late May-early September with lifeguards 11:00-19:00.✓ Better |
| Shopping | In New York shop on Fifth Avenue (from 42nd to 59th St), SoHo for boutiques and Chelsea Market for crafts.Electronics at B&H Photo (DSLR €500-1,500), sneakers at Flight Club (€120-300).Tax: 8.875% (but clothing under $110 ≈ €102 is exempt).Outlets: Woodbury Common at 85 km (bus 80-90 min, round trip €35-45).✓ Better | In Chicago the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave, 1.6 km) offers Apple, Nike and Nordstrom.State Street has Macy’s (ex Marshall Field).Sales tax 10.25% in the city.Outlets: Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora (60 km, by car 45-60 min) and Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont (27 km, 30 min).Prices: jeans €45-80, sneakers €70-140. |
| Safety and practical tips | In New York avoid at night areas like East New York and Brownsville (Brooklyn) and be cautious in Times Square with persistent costumed characters (photo requests €5-20).Subway: watch out for pickpockets at 42 St-Port Authority and 34 St-Penn; wear backpacks on the front during rush hours 8:00-9:30.Use only medallion taxis and call 911 for emergencies, 311 for information.Avoid isolated ATMs after 22:00. | In Chicago avoid late-night West Garfield Park, Englewood and parts of Austin.At busy CTA stops (Jackson, Roosevelt) keep your smartphone in zippered pockets.In winter bring layers for -10°C and slip-resistant soles for snow.Avoid unauthorized taxis outside O’Hare; follow official signs.Useful numbers: 911 emergencies, 311 non-urgent services.Do not walk on the ice on Lake Michigan under any circumstances. |
| How many days you need | For New York minimum 3 days (Midtown, Central Park, Lower Manhattan) and ideal 5-7 days.Example 3 days: day 1 Times Square-MoMA (6-8 hours), day 2 Statue of Liberty + Financial District (6-7 hours), day 3 Brooklyn Bridge + DUMBO (4-6 hours).You’ll walk 10-14 km/day; use the subway €2.70 for routes > 2 km. | For Chicago minimum 2 days (Loop, Millennium Park, Skydeck) and ideal 3-4 days.Example 3 days: day 1 Art Institute + Riverwalk (5-6 hours), day 2 architecture cruise 90 min + Magnificent Mile (3-4 hours), day 3 Museum Campus (Field/Shedd, 4-6 hours).You’ll walk 8-12 km/day; CTA at €2.30 per ride cuts times by 30%. |
| How to combine the two cities | Between New York and Chicago non-stop flight 2h30-2h45 (from JFK/LGA/EWR to ORD/MDW), round-trip prices €160-320 when booking 60-90 days in advance.Amtrak Lake Shore Limited train 19 hours, coach €84-167, sleepers €280-520.Bus Greyhound/FlixBus 18-20 hours, €60-110.Tip: 4 days in NYC + 3 in Chicago, evening transfer with a 19:00-21:00 flight to optimize time. | If starting from Chicago, same in reverse: 3 days in the Loop/River North then a 2h30 flight to NYC arriving at 22:00 and subway €2.70 to reach Midtown in 45-60 min.On the overnight Amtrak you save a hotel night (€140-220) but it takes 19 hours.Overnight bus 18-20 hours, stops in Toledo/Cleveland.Choose May or September for stable weather. |
The Verdict
Choose New York
Choose New York if it’s your first trip to the USA, you love museums and shows, and you’re traveling between September and October (18-24°C).With a budget of €1,200-1,800 for 5 days (3* hotel €1,000-1,400, meals €200-300, subway €31.50, attractions €120-200) you’ll cover the must-sees.Itinerary: day 1 Times Square + MoMA (2 hours); day 2 Statue of Liberty + Wall St (6 hours); day 3 Central Park (2 hours) + Top of the Rock (60 min); day 4 Brooklyn Bridge + DUMBO (3 hours); day 5 Met (2-3 hours) and Broadway (€80-180, 20:00).
Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago if you’re after architecture, compact museums and jazz on a long weekend between May and June (16-22°C).With €600-900 for 3 days (3* hotel €280-420, meals €150-220, CTA €10-20, attractions €120-180) you’ll experience the best.Itinerary: day 1 Art Institute (2-3 hours) + Skydeck (60 min) and dinner in the West Loop; day 2 architecture cruise 90 min + Magnificent Mile (3 hours) + jazz at the Green Mill (22:00); day 3 Museum Campus (Field/Shedd, 4-6 hours) and sunset at North Avenue Beach.