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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,619 in Camarillo, CA versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,316 in Camarillo, CA versus $4,695 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,013 in Camarillo, CA versus $6,273 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Camarillo, CA is roughly 16% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Camarillo, CA 165% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.23 $25.23

$19.92 $19.92

26.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 $64.7

$88.5 $88.5

-26.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$12.94 $12.94

-23.11%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.54 $5.54

1.26%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$2.74 $2.74

2.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.36 $2.36

-16.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.96 $6.96

$7.12 $7.12

-2.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.86 $8.86

$8.73 $8.73

1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.34 $1.34

-14.93%

White Bread (500g)

$5.82 $5.82

$4.17 $4.17

39.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.73 $5.73

-22.51%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$4.89 $4.89

1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.50 $12.50

$14.77 $14.77

-15.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.39 $20.39

$14.85 $14.85

37.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.03 $14.03

$19.61 $19.61

-28.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$5.57 $5.57

-0.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.92 $1.92

-7.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$4.17 $4.17

1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$4.86 $4.86

35.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.84 $2.84

24.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.80 $2.80

27.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.20 $2.20

8.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$3.06 $3.06

-25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.61 $11.61

$16.16 $16.16

-28.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.82 $14.82

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.53 $2.53

-30.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.35 $3.35

-8.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.30 $3.30

36.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.36 $1.36

40.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.45 $35.45

$25.12 $25.12

41.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.17 $1.17

16.24%

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

$37.4K $37.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

3.96%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-9.33%

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

$217 $217

$191 $191

13.60%

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

$72.2 $72.2

$67.9 $67.9

6.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$61.7 $61.7

14.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.53 $40.53

$63.5 $63.5

-36.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 $11.88

$18.02 $18.02

-34.07%

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

$1,984 $1,984

$1,522 $1,522

30.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.3K $43.3K

$31.3K $31.3K

38.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 $72.3

$63.7 $63.7

13.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.15 $20.15

$55.3 $55.3

-63.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 $80.1

$100 $100

-20.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$153 $153

10.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$2,406 $2,406

-9.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$1,653 $1,653

33.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,182 $4,182

$4,577 $4,577

-8.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,730 $3,730

$2,771 $2,771

34.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,522 $6,522

$4,031 $4,031

61.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,672 $5,672

$4,804 $4,804

18.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.38

-4.70%

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

Last update for Camarillo, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Camarillo, CA and $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camarillo, CA pays 18% 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: $65.0 in Camarillo, CA vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $476 vs $464, with Chicago, IL 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

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Camarillo, CA, 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: $2,174 in Camarillo, CA versus $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Camarillo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,619 per month in Camarillo, CA versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL – a 16% 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.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Camarillo, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Camarillo, 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 16% less than in Camarillo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.