Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,845 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,573 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,301 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Aliso Viejo, CA is roughly 25% more expensive than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aliso Viejo, CA 187% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.44 $25.44

$20.91 $20.91

21.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$98.1 $98.1

3.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$11.86 $11.86

-5.56%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.60 $5.60

-1.07%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$3.07 $3.07

-6.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.47 $2.47

-6.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.14 $7.14

22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.08 $8.08

11.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.05 $1.05

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.11 $4.11

7.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.61 $5.61

-14.97%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$4.51 $4.51

1.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 $12.33

$14.27 $14.27

-13.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.68 $11.68

$14.89 $14.89

-21.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$19.19 $19.19

-25.22%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$5.14 $5.14

22.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.77 $1.77

9.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.39 $4.39

-13.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$4.56 $4.56

5.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.54 $2.54

20.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.75 $2.75

-8.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.42 $2.42

-24.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.62 $2.62

-22.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 $10.54

$14.92 $14.92

-29.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$14.80 $14.80

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.46 $2.46

-26.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.73 $3.73

-16.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.48 $2.48

19.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.18 $3.18

29.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.42 $1.42

47.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 $29.15

$24.94 $24.94

16.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.06 $1.06

17.92%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$31.9K $31.9K

-11.59%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.73%

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

$185 $185

-0.13%

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

$55.0 $55.0

$61.7 $61.7

-10.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$66.9 $66.9

4.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.60 $49.60

$75.2 $75.2

-34.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$18.26 $18.26

$14.71 $14.71

24.13%

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

$1,793 $1,793

$2,020 $2,020

-11.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$39.4K $39.4K

-39.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 $62.5

$64.6 $64.6

-3.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.63 $46.63

$52.5 $52.5

-11.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 $100.0

$97.8 $97.8

2.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$148 $148

1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,807 $2,807

$2,313 $2,313

21.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,493 $2,493

$1,590 $1,590

56.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,054 $4,054

$4,608 $4,608

-12.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,281 $4,281

$2,779 $2,779

54.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,234 $7,234

$3,922 $3,922

84.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,542 $6,542

$2,613 $2,613

150.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,977 $7,977

$5,217 $5,217

52.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

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

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,807 in Aliso Viejo, CA and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Aliso Viejo, CA vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $405 vs $447, with Aliso Viejo, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Aliso Viejo, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aliso Viejo, CA and Chicago, IL differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($3,845 vs $3,077 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 53% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,807 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Aliso Viejo, CA pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,845 per month in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Aliso Viejo, 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.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.