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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chester, CA is 24.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chester, CA is 24.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24 $15.24
$20.82 $20.82
-26.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2 $55.2
$100 $100
-45.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 $10.38
$11.97 $11.97
-13.28%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$5.56 $5.56
-3.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$3.11 $3.11
-36.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.42 $2.42
-39.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 $5.11
$6.86 $6.86
-25.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.37 $6.37
$8.45 $8.45
-24.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.04 $1.04
18.27%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.15 $4.15
3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.46 $5.46
$5.52 $5.52
-1.09%
Eggs
$4.47 $4.47
$4.65 $4.65
-3.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.5 $15.5
$14.33 $14.33
8.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.87 $14.87
$14.88 $14.88
-0.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.87 $18.87
$19.34 $19.34
-2.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$5.17 $5.17
2.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.71 $1.71
21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.41 $4.41
-7.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.01 $7.01
$4.51 $4.51
55.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$2.53 $2.53
49.80%
Onion (1kg)
$4.72 $4.72
$2.74 $2.74
72.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.43 $2.43
14.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.7 $2.7
-11.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.75 $8.75
$15.19 $15.19
-42.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.26 $17.26
$16.42 $16.42
5.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.35 $2.35
-12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.7 $3.7
-19.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.53 $2.53
-21.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.34 $3.34
20.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.9 $1.9
$1.42 $1.42
33.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.14 $27.14
$25.42 $25.42
6.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.08 $1.08
-4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
9.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$251 $251
$188 $188
33.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.5 $59.5
$63.7 $63.7
-6.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.1 $74.1
$65.2 $65.2
13.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.94 $42.94
$76.7 $76.7
-44.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 $14.25
$14.93 $14.93
-4.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,680 $1,680
$2,063 $2,063
-18.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.5K $27.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-29.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 $59.6
$64.3 $64.3
-7.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 $65.1
$52.4 $52.4
24.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 $92.2
$95.2 $95.2
-3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 $125
$145 $145
-13.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$2,378 $2,378
-31.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 $1,344
$1,584 $1,584
-15.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,636 $2,636
$4,763 $4,763
-44.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,192 $2,192
$2,815 $2,815
-22.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,618 $2,618
$3,588 $3,588
-27.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,764 $2,764
$2,490 $2,490
11.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chester, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
6.6
-1.52%

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

Last update for Chester, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.