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

🙂 Solo nomad: Carlsbad, CA is 2.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Carlsbad, CA is 2.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.75 $19.75

$20.62 $20.62

-4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84 $84

$101 $101

-16.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.78 $11.78

0.42%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$5.78 $5.78

-13.84%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.98 $2.98

-11.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.45 $2.45

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 $6.89

$6.8 $6.8

1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 $7.09

$8.48 $8.48

-16.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.09 $1.09

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.1 $4.1

-2.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$5.36 $5.36

-22.39%

Eggs

$5.53 $5.53

$4.55 $4.55

21.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.7 $10.7

$14.35 $14.35

-25.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.6 $8.6

$15.2 $15.2

-43.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$18.97 $18.97

-22.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.44 $5.44

-35.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.72 $1.72

5.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.39 $4.39

-35.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.42 $4.42

28.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.57 $2.57

37.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.69 $2.69

21.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.41 $2.41

-42.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.72 $2.72

-20.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 $10.87

$14.82 $14.82

-26.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.71 $16.71

-11.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.45 $2.45

-39.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$3.58 $3.58

-68.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.54 $2.54

1.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$174 $174

$76.2 $76.2

129.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.85 $9.85

$3.31 $3.31

197.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.39 $1.39

21.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.69 $34.69

$25.15 $25.15

37.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.05 $1.05

16.19%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$31.5K $31.5K

-25.06%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-9.23%

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

$246 $246

$182 $182

34.98%

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

$46.92 $46.92

$62.6 $62.6

-25.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 $60.8

$66.5 $66.5

-8.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.8 $81.8

$77.7 $77.7

5.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.66 $32.66

$13.18 $13.18

147.80%

Cinema Ticket

$21.4 $21.4

$14.98 $14.98

42.86%

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

$1,227 $1,227

$2,022 $2,022

-39.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$39K $39K

-40.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$63.3 $63.3

-14.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.95 $23.95

$52.3 $52.3

-54.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 $77.1

$95.9 $95.9

-19.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 $85.5

$148 $148

-42.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,623 $2,623

$2,302 $2,302

13.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,207 $2,207

$1,622 $1,622

36.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,297 $4,297

$4,642 $4,642

-7.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,484 $3,484

$2,815 $2,815

23.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,818 $6,818

$3,708 $3,708

83.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,129 $6,129

$2,559 $2,559

139.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,676 $6,676

$5,228 $5,228

27.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.97

6.6

-9.55%

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

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: November 4, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

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