Cost of Living Comparison Between Alameda, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alameda, CA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Alameda, CA is 9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alameda, CA is 12.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.68 $19.68

$20.82 $20.82

-5.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.6 $83.6

$100 $100

-16.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.28 $15.28

$11.97 $11.97

27.65%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$5.56 $5.56

-9.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.11 $3.11

9.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.42 $2.42

-15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.59 $7.59

$6.86 $6.86

10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.45 $8.45

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.04 $1.04

36.54%

White Bread (500g)

$5 $5

$4.15 $4.15

20.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.52 $5.52

17.21%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.65 $4.65

2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.2 $13.2

$14.33 $14.33

-7.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.88 $14.88

1.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.31 $17.31

$19.34 $19.34

-10.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.17 $5.17

11.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.71 $1.71

41.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.41 $4.41

-0.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$4.51 $4.51

47.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.53 $2.53

49.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.4 $3.4

$2.74 $2.74

24.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.4 $1.4

$2.43 $2.43

-42.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.7 $2.7

2.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.82 $11.82

$15.19 $15.19

-22.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.14 $18.14

$16.42 $16.42

10.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.7 $3.7

-12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.53 $2.53

39.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.34 $3.34

26.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.42 $1.42

31.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.78 $14.78

$25.42 $25.42

-41.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.08 $1.08

19.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.7K $30.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-5.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.6K $27.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

5.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$217 $217

$188 $188

15.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.6 $54.6

$63.7 $63.7

-14.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$65.2 $65.2

5.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$200 $200

$76.7 $76.7

160.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$14.93 $14.93

-0.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$2,063 $2,063

-23.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.7K $37.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-3.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.35 $48.35

$64.3 $64.3

-24.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.46 $34.46

$52.4 $52.4

-34.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 $73.3

$95.2 $95.2

-22.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$145 $145

-4.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,419 $2,419

$2,378 $2,378

1.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,241 $2,241

$1,584 $1,584

41.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,493 $4,493

$4,763 $4,763

-5.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,216 $3,216

$2,815 $2,815

14.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,359 $5,359

$3,588 $3,588

49.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,526 $4,526

$2,490 $2,490

81.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,192 $7,192

$5,275 $5,275

36.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.6

-1.82%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alameda, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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