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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Alhambra, CA is 8.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Alhambra, CA is 28.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.33 $19.33
$20.82 $20.82
-7.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 $74.6
$100 $100
-25.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.86 $10.86
$11.97 $11.97
-9.27%
Cappuccino
$4.96 $4.96
$5.56 $5.56
-10.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.11 $3.11
-17.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.86 $6.86
-14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$8.45 $8.45
-15.86%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.15 $4.15
-14.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.52 $5.52
-21.38%
Eggs
$4.13 $4.13
$4.65 $4.65
-11.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 $12.46
$14.33 $14.33
-13.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.72 $11.72
$14.88 $14.88
-21.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.66 $15.66
$19.34 $19.34
-19.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$5.17 $5.17
-6.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.71 $1.71
-3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$4.41 $4.41
-0.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.51 $4.51
6.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.53 $2.53
15.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.74 $2.74
6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.43 $2.43
-17.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.7 $2.7
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.61 $9.61
$15.19 $15.19
-36.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.06 $9.06
$16.42 $16.42
-44.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$3.7 $3.7
-8.65%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.34 $3.34
2.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 $1.42
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.71 $29.71
$25.42 $25.42
16.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.80%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$188 $188
-1.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$63.7 $63.7
-15.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2 $68.2
$65.2 $65.2
4.57%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.34 $42.34
$76.7 $76.7
-44.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.56 $13.56
$14.93 $14.93
-9.18%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$2,063 $2,063
-37.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.25%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 $50.6
$64.3 $64.3
-21.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66 $39.66
$52.4 $52.4
-24.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$95.2 $95.2
-7.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.16%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,304 $2,304
$2,378 $2,378
-3.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,939 $1,939
$1,584 $1,584
22.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,661 $2,661
$4,763 $4,763
-44.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,182 $2,182
$2,815 $2,815
-22.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,683 $2,683
$3,588 $3,588
-25.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,702 $2,702
$2,490 $2,490
8.52%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Alhambra, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,876 $4,876
$5,275 $5,275
-7.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alhambra, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.