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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.2% cheaper than Alameda, CA without rent, and 20.2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.3% more expensive than Alameda, CA without rent, and 6.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.68 $19.68

5.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$83.6 $83.6

20.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$15.28 $15.28

-21.66%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.02 $5.02

10.76%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.41 $3.41

-8.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.59 $7.59

-9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.21 $8.21

2.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.42 $1.42

-26.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5 $5

-17.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.47 $6.47

-14.68%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.77 $4.77

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.2 $13.2

8.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.11 $15.11

-1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.31 $17.31

11.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.79 $5.79

-10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.42 $2.42

-29.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.39 $4.39

0.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.66 $6.66

-32.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.79 $3.79

-33.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.4 $3.4

-19.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.4 $1.4

73.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.78 $2.78

-2.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.82 $11.82

28.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.14 $18.14

-9.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.22 $3.22

14.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.53 $3.53

-28.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.24 $4.24

-21.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.87 $1.87

-24.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$14.78 $14.78

71.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.29 $1.29

-16.28%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.7K $30.7K

5.66%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.6K $27.6K

-4.90%

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

$188 $188

$217 $217

-13.27%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.6 $54.6

16.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.5 $68.5

-4.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$200 $200

-61.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.88 $14.88

0.34%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,572 $1,572

31.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$37.7K $37.7K

3.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$48.35 $48.35

33.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.46 $34.46

52.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$73.3 $73.3

29.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$138 $138

5.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,419 $2,419

-1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,241 $2,241

-29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,493 $4,493

6.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,216 $3,216

-12.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$5,359 $5,359

-33.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,526 $4,526

-44.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,192 $7,192

-26.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.48

1.85%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alameda, CA: October 26, 2025

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