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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $3,827 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $5,651 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $7,475 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 19% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Aliso Viejo, CA 185% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$25.01 $25.01

-18.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$99.8 $99.8

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$10.94 $10.94

10.33%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.77 $5.77

-0.69%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.93 $2.93

1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.22 $2.22

11.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$8.46 $8.46

-17.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.70 $8.70

-5.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.25 $1.25

-16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.37 $4.37

-6.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.76 $4.76

15.55%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.60 $4.60

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.39 $12.39

16.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$11.45 $11.45

32.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$14.79 $14.79

30.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.23 $6.23

-17.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.83 $1.83

-3.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.96 $3.96

9.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.71 $4.71

-7.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.05 $3.05

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.52 $2.52

10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.90 $1.90

32.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.02 $2.02

31.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.41 $10.41

43.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.08 $15.08

-0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.83 $1.83

33.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.29 $3.29

7.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.05 $3.05

-20.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.07 $4.07

-18.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.10 $2.10

-34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$28.86 $28.86

-12.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.25 $1.25

-12.80%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.7K $28.7K

10.88%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$27.1K $27.1K

-1.16%

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

$187 $187

$184 $184

1.84%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$54.7 $54.7

16.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$70.5 $70.5

-7.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$49.12 $49.12

54.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$17.80 $17.80

-16.85%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,785 $1,785

13.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

67.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$61.3 $61.3

4.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$46.13 $46.13

12.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$101 $101

-5.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$149 $149

-2.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$2,850 $2,850

-18.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$2,517 $2,517

-36.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$4,043 $4,043

16.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$4,162 $4,162

-34.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$7,171 $7,171

-46.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$6,337 $6,337

-60.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$8,116 $8,116

-37.17%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $2,850 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $100 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $448 vs $406, with Aliso Viejo, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Aliso Viejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Aliso Viejo, CA differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($3,111 vs $3,827 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Aliso Viejo, CA earns 59% less. 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $2,850 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Aliso Viejo, CA pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,827 in Aliso Viejo, CA – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Aliso Viejo, 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 Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.