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: $3,544 in Camarillo, CA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,189 in Camarillo, CA versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,834 in Camarillo, CA versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Camarillo, CA is roughly 15% more expensive than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Camarillo, CA 164% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$20.91 $20.91

20.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 $66.1

$98.1 $98.1

-32.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 $9.81

$11.86 $11.86

-17.28%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.60 $5.60

1.43%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.07 $3.07

-11.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.47 $2.47

-16.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.79 $6.79

$7.14 $7.14

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.59 $8.59

$8.08 $8.08

6.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.05 $1.05

19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.11 $4.11

37.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.61 $5.61

-16.76%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.51 $4.51

-1.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 $12.59

$14.27 $14.27

-11.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.61 $11.61

$14.89 $14.89

-22.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$19.19 $19.19

-24.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$5.14 $5.14

21.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.77 $1.77

9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.39 $4.39

-13.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.56 $4.56

16.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.54 $2.54

25.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.75 $2.75

12.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.42 $2.42

-14.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.62 $2.62

-20.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.62 $9.62

$14.92 $14.92

-35.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.80 $14.80

1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.46 $2.46

-28.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.73 $3.73

22.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.48 $2.48

-17.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.18 $3.18

27.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.42 $1.42

97.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.18 $32.18

$24.94 $24.94

29.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.06 $1.06

21.70%

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

$28.6K $28.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-10.38%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

-7.66%

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

$204 $204

$185 $185

10.46%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$61.7 $61.7

-11.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$66.9 $66.9

10.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.10 $40.10

$75.2 $75.2

-46.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$14.71 $14.71

-5.17%

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

$1,823 $1,823

$2,020 $2,020

-9.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$39.4K $39.4K

3.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$64.6 $64.6

4.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.92 $19.92

$52.5 $52.5

-62.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 $77.5

$97.8 $97.8

-20.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$148 $148

5.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,239 $2,239

$2,313 $2,313

-3.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,590 $1,590

39.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,184 $4,184

$4,608 $4,608

-9.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,729 $3,729

$2,779 $2,779

34.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,478 $6,478

$3,922 $3,922

65.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,642 $5,642

$5,217 $5,217

8.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

6.6

1.36%

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

Last update for Camarillo, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,239 in Camarillo, CA and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camarillo, CA pays 8% 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: $66.0 in Camarillo, CA vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 vs $447 per month, with Camarillo, 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

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Camarillo, CA pays 8% 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: $2,239 in Camarillo, CA versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Camarillo, CA pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,544 per month in Camarillo, CA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL – a 15% 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 15% less than in Camarillo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.