Cost of Living Comparison Between Apple Valley, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Apple Valley, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,605 in Apple Valley, CA versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,722 in Apple Valley, CA versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,838 in Apple Valley, CA versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Apple Valley, CA costs roughly 15% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Apple Valley, CA 94% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.07 $20.07

$20.67 $20.67

-2.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.53 $47.53

$100 $100

-52.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$11.86 $11.86

-5.56%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.54 $5.54

-8.48%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$3.06 $3.06

-18.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.48 $2.48

-17.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.92 $6.92

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.49 $7.49

$8.13 $8.13

-7.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.91 $3.91

-7.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.42 $5.42

-21.77%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$4.48 $4.48

-7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$14.52 $14.52

-16.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 $11.57

$15.21 $15.21

-23.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$19.25 $19.25

-20.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.39 $5.39

-11.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.69 $1.69

-4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.32 $4.32

-3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.51 $4.51

3.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.56 $2.56

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.70 $2.70

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.41 $2.41

-16.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.62 $2.62

-16.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 $9.87

$15.02 $15.02

-34.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.07 $16.07

$14.71 $14.71

9.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.48 $2.48

-26.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.69 $3.69

-10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.55 $2.55

-23.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.29 $3.29

3.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.43 $1.43

11.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 $29.15

$24.72 $24.72

17.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 $1.09

-23.85%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$31.8K $31.8K

-8.16%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.75%

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

$189 $189

$183 $183

3.05%

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

$52.5 $52.5

$61.8 $61.8

-15.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$65.0 $65.0

4.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.17 $43.17

$76.1 $76.1

-43.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$13.66 $13.66

$14.75 $14.75

-7.39%

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

$1,293 $1,293

$2,056 $2,056

-37.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$38.5K $38.5K

-40.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$63.9 $63.9

-21.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.74 $40.74

$51.6 $51.6

-21.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$97.3 $97.3

-11.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$147 $147

-24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$2,349 $2,349

-33.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 $1,359

$1,581 $1,581

-14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,608 $2,608

$4,708 $4,708

-44.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,219 $2,219

$2,716 $2,716

-18.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,737 $2,737

$3,976 $3,976

-31.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,612 $2,612

$2,632 $2,632

-0.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,656 $5,656

$4,723 $4,723

19.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Apple Valley, CA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Apple Valley, CA and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Apple Valley, CA pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48 in Apple Valley, CA vs $100 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $447 per month, with Apple Valley, 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

Apple Valley, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Apple Valley, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Apple Valley, CA pays 20% 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: $1,573 in Apple Valley, CA versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,293 in Apple Valley, CA versus $2,056 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Apple Valley, CA – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Apple Valley, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Apple Valley, 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.

Expats usually find Apple Valley, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.