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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,545 in Adelanto, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,754 in Adelanto, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,963 in Adelanto, CA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 21% more expensive than in Adelanto, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Adelanto, CA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$17.84 $17.84

16.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$49.11 $49.11

100.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$14.84 $14.84

-19.81%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.11 $5.11

14.29%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.99 $1.99

54.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.99 $0.99

137.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.20 $7.20

-4.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.85 $6.85

17.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.11 $1.11

-5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.11 $4.11

-3.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.80 $4.80

16.67%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.87 $3.87

17.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.03 $12.03

18.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.90 $15.90

-6.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.46 $15.46

23.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.36 $4.36

21.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.08 $5.08

-16.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.69 $5.69

-23.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.19 $3.19

-19.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.82 $2.82

-0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.01 $2.01

22.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.15 $2.15

25.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$11.04 $11.04

35.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.95 $15.95

-7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.98 $1.98

19.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.46 $3.46

3.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.94 $1.94

25.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$6.70 $6.70

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.58 $1.58

-13.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$28.92 $28.92

-12.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.26 $1.26

-13.49%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

24.64%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$29.1K $29.1K

-9.22%

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

$188 $188

$161 $161

17.13%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$54.5 $54.5

16.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$59.3 $59.3

11.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.25 $42.25

78.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.93 $14.93

-0.87%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,474 $1,474

42.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.0K $23.0K

67.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$47.48 $47.48

36.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$33.84 $33.84

52.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$102 $102

-5.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$103 $103

42.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,572 $1,572

48.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,329 $1,329

18.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,672 $2,672

78.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,236 $2,236

21.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,083 $3,083

30.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,229 $2,229

20.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$7,692 $7,692

-35.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.64

-0.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Adelanto, CA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,572 in Adelanto, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Adelanto, CA pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $49.00 in Adelanto, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $428 per month, with Adelanto, 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

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

Adelanto, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Adelanto, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,572 in Adelanto, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,474 in Adelanto, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Adelanto, CA – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $99.0 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. Adelanto, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Adelanto, 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.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Adelanto, CA 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 Adelanto, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.