Chicago vs Sevilla: A Complete Data-Driven Comparison
Chicago
United States ยท $2,600/mo
Sevilla
Spain ยท $1,400/mo for a single person
Choosing between Chicago, United States and Sevilla, Spain is one of the most common dilemmas facing digital nomads, expats, and remote workers in 2026. Both cities offer unique advantages. But the right choice depends entirely on your priorities, budget, and lifestyle preferences.
In this comprehensive comparison, we analyze Chicago and Sevilla across 12 critical categories: Economic Factors, Quality of Life, Infrastructure & Connectivity, Housing & Living Spaces, and 8 more categories. Each category is scored on a 0-100 scale using data from over 20 verified sources, including Numbeo, WHO, Speedtest, and local government statistics.
Chicago earns an overall score of 72.99/100, while Sevilla scores 72.92/100. A 0.07-point modest gap that Chicago leads. But headline scores never tell the full story. Let's break down exactly where each city excels and where it falls short.
Chicago is described as: "Architectural marvel with deep cultural roots. Harsh winters but affordable by US standards." Meanwhile, Sevilla is known as: "Andalusia's flamenco soul: affordable tapas culture, warm winters, and a thriving nomad scene without the Barcelona price tag." These reputations are earned. But how do they hold up under rigorous data analysis? Read on.
Economic Factors
Chicago
66Sevilla
67In economic factors, Sevilla takes the lead with a score of 67/100 compared to 66/100. This category covers employment & income, cost factors, economic environment.
Chicago has a solid advantage in employment & income (74 vs 55). Sevilla has a commanding lead in cost factors (77 vs 50). Chicago has a solid advantage in economic environment (78 vs 65).
Sevilla stands out for transportation costs, healthcare costs, currency stability, though salary levels and tax rates could be improved. Chicago performs well in currency stability and banking system despite the overall gap.
Employment & Income
Chicago
74Sevilla
55Job Market Strength
Salary Levels
Freelance/Remote Work Market
Entrepreneurship Environment
Cost Factors
Chicago
50Sevilla
77Housing Costs
Daily Living Costs
Transportation Costs
Entertainment Costs
Healthcare Costs
Education Costs
Economic Environment
Chicago
78Sevilla
65Tax Rates
Business Regulations
Economic Stability
Currency Stability
Banking System
Quality of Life
Chicago
67Sevilla
71In quality of life, Sevilla takes the lead with a score of 71/100 compared to 67/100. This category covers healthcare, education, safety & environment, climate & nature.
Sevilla has a solid advantage in safety & environment (69 vs 57). Sevilla has a solid advantage in climate & nature (74 vs 64).
Sevilla stands out for sunshine hours, healthcare affordability, language schools, though noise pollution and english-speaking medical staff could be improved. Chicago performs well in english-speaking medical staff and universities despite the overall gap.
Healthcare
Chicago
75Sevilla
70Healthcare Quality
Healthcare Accessibility
Healthcare Affordability
English-Speaking Medical Staff
Mental Health Services
Dental Care
Education
Chicago
76Sevilla
71School Quality
International Schools
Universities
Language Schools
Vocational Training
Safety & Environment
Chicago
57Sevilla
69Crime Rates
Personal Safety
Political Stability
Natural Disaster Risk
Air Quality
Water Quality
Noise Pollution
Climate & Nature
Chicago
64Sevilla
74Climate Suitability
Sunshine Hours
Rainfall Patterns
Natural Beauty
Green Spaces
Beach/Water Access
Mountains/Hiking
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Chicago
75Sevilla
72In infrastructure & connectivity, Chicago takes the lead with a score of 75/100 compared to 72/100. This category covers transportation, connectivity, digital infrastructure.
Chicago stands out for airport connectivity, public transport quality, mobile network quality, though ferry connections and traffic congestion could be improved. Sevilla performs well in public transport affordability and walkability despite the overall gap.
Transportation
Chicago
73Sevilla
74Public Transport Quality
Public Transport Coverage
Public Transport Affordability
Bike Infrastructure
Walkability
Traffic Congestion
Driving Conditions
Taxi/Rideshare
Car Ownership Necessity
Connectivity
Chicago
70Sevilla
67Airport Connectivity
Airport Distance
Train Connections
Bus Connections
Ferry Connections
Digital Infrastructure
Chicago
81Sevilla
73Internet Speed
Internet Reliability
Internet Cost
Mobile Network Quality
Coworking Spaces
Public WiFi
Housing & Living Spaces
Chicago
66Sevilla
70In housing & living spaces, Sevilla takes the lead with a score of 70/100 compared to 66/100. This category covers housing market, neighborhoods.
Sevilla stands out for proximity to amenities, rental costs, housing variety, though gentrification trends and rental availability could be improved. Chicago performs well in proximity to amenities and neighborhood diversity despite the overall gap.
Housing Market
Chicago
60Sevilla
68Rental Availability
Rental Costs
Purchase Prices
Housing Quality
Housing Variety
Landlord Regulations
Neighborhoods
Chicago
75Sevilla
71Neighborhood Diversity
Expat/International Areas
Gentrification Trends
Proximity to Amenities
Daily Life & Services
Chicago
81Sevilla
76In daily life & services, Chicago takes the lead with a score of 81/100 compared to 76/100. This category covers shopping & retail, food & dining, essential services, utilities & connectivity.
Chicago has a solid advantage in shopping & retail (83 vs 72).
Chicago stands out for restaurant variety, electricity reliability, e-commerce, though utility costs and restaurant affordability could be improved. Sevilla performs well in local markets and alcohol availability despite the overall gap.
Shopping & Retail
Chicago
83Sevilla
72Supermarket Availability
Shopping Mall Quantity
Shopping Mall Quality
International Brands
Local Markets
Opening Hours
E-commerce
Food & Dining
Chicago
83Sevilla
83Restaurant Variety
Restaurant Quality
Restaurant Affordability
Cafรฉ Culture
Street Food
Alcohol Availability
Food Delivery
Essential Services
Chicago
80Sevilla
77Pharmacy Density
24-Hour Pharmacies
Medicine Availability
Postal Services
Banking Services
Laundry Services
Repair Services
Hair Salons/Barbers
Pet Services
Utilities & Connectivity
Chicago
78Sevilla
71Electricity Reliability
Water Reliability
Utility Costs
Heating/Cooling
Waste Management
Cultural & Social Life
Chicago
84Sevilla
79In cultural & social life, Chicago takes the lead with a score of 84/100 compared to 79/100. This category covers culture & entertainment, social life, community.
Chicago stands out for language barriers, museums & galleries, sports culture, though nightlife safety and expat community size could be improved. Sevilla performs well in historical sites and festival calendar despite the overall gap.
Culture & Entertainment
Chicago
87Sevilla
82Museums & Galleries
Historical Sites
Theaters & Performing Arts
Music Scene
Cinema Options
Libraries
Art Scene
Social Life
Chicago
82Sevilla
79Nightlife Quality
Nightlife Safety
Festival Calendar
Sports Culture
Social Clubs
Dating Scene
LGBTQ+ Scene
Community
Chicago
82Sevilla
74Local Friendliness
Expat Community Size
Expat Integration
Language Barriers
Cultural Events
Professional & Career
Chicago
74Sevilla
66In professional & career, Chicago takes the lead with a score of 74/100 compared to 66/100. This category covers business environment, work environment, market opportunities.
Chicago has a solid advantage in business environment (78 vs 61). Chicago has a solid advantage in market opportunities (73 vs 60).
Chicago stands out for internet for work, major companies, remote work acceptance, though business visa options and work-life balance could be improved. Sevilla performs well in work-life balance and time zone despite the overall gap.
Business Environment
Chicago
78Sevilla
61Industry Clusters
Major Companies
Startup Ecosystem
Coworking Culture
Professional Networking
Business Associations
Work Environment
Chicago
70Sevilla
77Work-Life Balance
Remote Work Acceptance
Internet for Work
Time Zone
Business Visa Options
Market Opportunities
Chicago
73Sevilla
60Client Base
Freelance Market
Competition Level
Lifestyle & Pace
Chicago
71Sevilla
71In lifestyle & pace, Chicago takes the lead with a score of 71/100 compared to 71/100. This category covers daily rhythm, lifestyle options, tourism impact.
Chicago stands out for tourist infrastructure, weekend culture, fitness culture, though tourist volume and crowding could be improved. Sevilla performs well in weekend culture and pace of life despite the overall gap.
Daily Rhythm
Chicago
72Sevilla
70Pace of Life
Working Hours Culture
Dining Hours
Shop Opening Hours
Weekend Culture
Lifestyle Options
Chicago
75Sevilla
78Outdoor Lifestyle
Fitness Culture
Health Consciousness
Pet Friendliness
Family Orientation
Tourism Impact
Chicago
65Sevilla
64Tourist Volume
Tourism Seasonality
Tourist Infrastructure
Authenticity
Crowding
Legal & Administrative
Chicago
66Sevilla
72In legal & administrative, Sevilla takes the lead with a score of 72/100 compared to 66/100. This category covers visa & residency, administration, rights & freedoms.
Sevilla has a commanding lead in visa & residency (77 vs 37). Chicago has a solid advantage in administration (76 vs 58).
Sevilla stands out for deportation risk, visa requirements, freedom of speech, though bureaucracy level and language requirements could be improved. Chicago performs well in language requirements and freedom of speech despite the overall gap.
Visa & Residency
Chicago
37Sevilla
77Visa Requirements
Residency Options
Residency Process
Citizenship Pathway
Deportation Risk
Administration
Chicago
76Sevilla
58Bureaucracy Level
Digital Government
Document Requirements
Language Requirements
Legal System
Rights & Freedoms
Chicago
84Sevilla
82Freedom of Speech
Religious Freedom
Women's Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Worker Rights
Family & Children
Chicago
69Sevilla
79In family & children, Sevilla takes the lead with a score of 79/100 compared to 69/100. This category covers child-friendly infrastructure, family services.
Sevilla has a solid advantage in family services (77 vs 64).
Sevilla stands out for kid activities, playgrounds, child safety, though baby/toddler facilities and childcare availability could be improved. Chicago performs well in playgrounds and kid activities despite the overall gap.
Child-Friendly Infrastructure
Chicago
75Sevilla
80Playgrounds
Kid Activities
Child Safety
Pediatric Care
Baby/Toddler Facilities
Family Services
Chicago
64Sevilla
77Childcare Availability
Childcare Costs
School Holidays
Extracurricular Activities
Family Housing
Practical Considerations
Chicago
76Sevilla
73In practical considerations, Chicago takes the lead with a score of 76/100 compared to 73/100. This category covers transportation costs, special services, communication, emergency services.
Chicago stands out for language learning, emergency numbers, gas station density, though vehicle costs and fuel prices could be improved. Sevilla performs well in language learning and emergency numbers despite the overall gap.
Transportation Costs
Chicago
66Sevilla
67Fuel Prices
Gas Station Density
EV Infrastructure
Vehicle Costs
Vehicle Maintenance
Special Services
Chicago
80Sevilla
73Moving Services
Storage Facilities
Translation Services
Legal Services
Accounting Services
Communication
Chicago
78Sevilla
78Postal Reliability
Package Import
Language Learning
International Calling
Emergency Services
Chicago
82Sevilla
78Emergency Response
Emergency Healthcare
Emergency Numbers
Natural Disaster Preparedness
Specific to Your Profile
Chicago
71Sevilla
78In specific to your profile, Sevilla takes the lead with a score of 78/100 compared to 71/100. This category covers remote work specific, personal circumstances.
Sevilla has a solid advantage in personal circumstances (81 vs 71).
Sevilla stands out for partner citizenship advantages, time zone alignment, citizenship advantages, though industry presence and tech ecosystem could be improved. Chicago performs well in language skills and dietary requirements despite the overall gap.
Remote Work Specific
Chicago
72Sevilla
75Time Zone Alignment
Coworking Day Passes
Cafรฉ Laptop Culture
Video Call Quality
Tech Ecosystem
Personal Circumstances
Chicago
71Sevilla
81Citizenship Advantages
Partner Citizenship Advantages
Industry Presence
Language Skills
Religious/Cultural Fit
Dietary Requirements
Hobby Availability
Pet Import Rules
The Verdict: Chicago or Sevilla?
With an overall score of 72.99/100 versus 72.92/100, Chicago leads on paper. But the "better" city ultimately depends on what matters most to you.
Chicago excels in infrastructure & connectivity, daily life & services, cultural & social life. Sevilla leads in economic factors, quality of life, housing & living spaces.
Use our interactive comparison tool to drill deeper into specific metrics. No single ranking captures the complexity of choosing a new home. But data-driven analysis gives you the best starting point.
Dive Deeper with Our Interactive Tool
See the full data breakdown with live filtering and side-by-side analysis.
Compare Chicago vs Sevilla Live