Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Aliso Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Aliso Viejo, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.5% cheaper than Aliso Viejo, CA without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.3% cheaper than Aliso Viejo, CA without rent, and 15.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.62 $24.62
-15.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$99.3 $99.3
1.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.94 $10.94
9.41%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.75 $5.75
-3.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.97 $2.97
4.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.33 $2.33
3.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.52 $8.52
-19.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.83 $8.83
-4.30%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.46 $4.46
-6.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.56 $4.56
21.05%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.41 $4.41
5.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.39 $12.39
15.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.72 $11.72
26.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.67 $14.67
31.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.29 $6.29
-17.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.84 $1.84
-7.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.94 $3.94
11.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.88 $4.88
-7.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3 $3
-15.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.47 $2.47
10.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.92 $1.92
26.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.03 $2.03
33.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.61 $10.61
43.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.77 $14.77
11.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.82 $1.82
29.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.12 $3.12
18.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.92 $2.92
-13.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.91 $3.91
-14.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.03 $2.03
-30.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.05 $29.05
-12.50%
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
$28.9K $28.9K
12.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$179 $179
4.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.2 $54.2
17.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71 $71
-8.17%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$50.6 $50.6
51.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$17.69 $17.69
-15.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,798 $1,798
14.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.6K $23.6K
66.12%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.2 $63.2
1.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.99 $46.99
11.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.7 $98.7
-3.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$149 $149
-3.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,773 $2,773
-14.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,500 $2,500
-36.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,092 $4,092
16.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,263 $4,263
-33.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,865 $2,865
25.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,760 $2,760
-9.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$9,015 $9,015
-41.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: October 28, 2025

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