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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.5% more expensive than Alhambra, CA without rent, and 3.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.3% more expensive than Alhambra, CA without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.33 $19.33

7.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.6 $74.6

34.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.86 $10.86

10.22%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.96 $4.96

12.10%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.56 $2.56

21.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.01 $2.01

20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.84 $5.84

17.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.11 $7.11

18.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 $1.01

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.54 $3.54

17.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.34 $4.34

27.19%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.13 $4.13

12.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.46 $12.46

15.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.72 $11.72

26.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.66 $15.66

23.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.83 $4.83

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.65 $1.65

3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.38 $4.38

0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.79 $4.79

-5.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.91 $2.91

-13.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.91 $2.91

-5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.1 $2.1

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.61 $9.61

58.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.06 $9.06

81.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.84 $1.84

27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.38 $3.38

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.96 $1.96

29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.44 $3.44

-2.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.71 $29.71

-14.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30K $30K

8.16%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.95%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.57%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.9 $53.9

18.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.2 $68.2

-4.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.34 $42.34

81.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.56 $13.56

10.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,289 $1,289

60.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.6 $50.6

26.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.66 $39.66

32.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$88.3 $88.3

7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

30.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,304 $2,304

3.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,939 $1,939

-18.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,661 $2,661

78.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,182 $2,182

29.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,683 $2,683

33.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,702 $2,702

-7.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,876 $4,876

8.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alhambra, CA: October 27, 2025

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