๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,569 in Adelanto, CA versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,776 in Adelanto, CA versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,984 in Adelanto, CA versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.
๐Living in Adelanto, CA costs roughly 16% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Adelanto, CA92% above, Chicago, IL128% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.89$17.89
$20.67$20.67
-13.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.07$49.07
$100$100
-51.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.07$15.07
$11.86$11.86
27.07%
Cappuccino
$5.35$5.35
$5.54$5.54
-3.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$3.06$3.06
-32.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97$0.97
$2.48$2.48
-60.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03$7.03
$6.92$6.92
1.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87$6.87
$8.13$8.13
-15.50%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$1.04$1.04
8.65%
White Bread(500g)
$4.28$4.28
$3.91$3.91
9.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.80$4.80
$5.42$5.42
-11.44%
Eggs
$3.87$3.87
$4.48$4.48
-13.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.42$12.42
$14.52$14.52
-14.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.13$16.13
$15.21$15.21
6.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.28$15.28
$19.25$19.25
-20.62%
Apples(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$5.39$5.39
-17.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.69$1.69
-1.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.17$5.17
$4.32$4.32
19.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.70$5.70
$4.51$4.51
26.39%
Potato(1kg)
$3.19$3.19
$2.56$2.56
24.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$2.70$2.70
9.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.07$2.07
$2.41$2.41
-14.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$2.62$2.62
-19.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.96$10.96
$15.02$15.02
-27.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.03$16.03
$14.71$14.71
8.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$2.48$2.48
-22.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42$3.42
$3.69$3.69
-7.32%
๐ Getting Around
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$2.55$2.55
-20.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.5$75.5
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.66$6.66
$3.29$3.29
102.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60$1.60
$1.43$1.43
11.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.48$29.48
$24.72$24.72
19.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30$1.30
$1.09$1.09
19.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$31.8K$31.8K
-19.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K$28.4K
$26.4K$26.4K
7.55%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159$159
$183$183
-13.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2$53.2
$61.8$61.8
-14.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3$59.3
$65.0$65.0
-8.90%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.46$43.46
$76.1$76.1
-42.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.04$13.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.97$14.97
$14.75$14.75
1.49%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,501$1,501
$2,056$2,056
-26.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$38.5K$38.5K
-39.08%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.90$46.90
$63.9$63.9
-26.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.35$33.35
$51.6$51.6
-35.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103$103
$97.3$97.3
5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$147$147
-29.15%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,599$1,599
$2,349$2,349
-31.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,334$1,334
$1,581$1,581
-15.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,581$2,581
$4,708$4,708
-45.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,202$2,202
$2,716$2,716
-18.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,994$2,994
$3,976$3,976
-24.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,636$2,636
$2,632$2,632
0.14%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Adelanto, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,470$5,470
$4,723$4,723
15.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.64
6.6
0.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adelanto, CA: April 21, 2026
Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,599 in Adelanto, CA and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAdelanto, CA pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $49 in Adelanto, CA vs $100 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $447 per month, with Adelanto, CA cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Adelanto, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago, IL cheaper than Adelanto, CA?
Adelanto, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Adelanto, CA or Chicago, IL?
Adelanto, CA pays 16% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Adelanto, CA and Chicago, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,599 in Adelanto, CA versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,501 in Adelanto, CA versus $2,056 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Adelanto, CA or Chicago, IL?
Dining out is cheaper in Adelanto, CA โ a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Adelanto, CA or Chicago, IL?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Adelanto, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Adelanto, CA or Chicago, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Adelanto, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Adelanto, CA or Chicago, IL?
Safety-wise, Adelanto, CA and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Adelanto, CA gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 19% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Adelanto, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared