Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Apple Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Apple Valley, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,599 in Apple Valley, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,737 in Apple Valley, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,874 in Apple Valley, CA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 20% more expensive than in Apple Valley, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Apple Valley, CA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.28 $20.28

-1.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$48.17 $48.17

83.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.52 $11.52

12.33%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.04 $5.04

9.92%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.94 $1.94

21.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.85 $5.85

21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.30 $7.30

19.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.89 $0.89

50.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.51 $4.51

-7.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.39 $4.39

30.52%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.07 $4.07

20.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.92 $10.92

35.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$11.54 $11.54

28.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$18.25 $18.25

7.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.55 $5.55

0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.63 $1.63

17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.90 $4.90

-14.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.99 $4.99

-2.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.47 $2.47

14.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.07 $3.07

-8.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.91 $1.91

15.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.53 $2.53

20.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.84 $9.84

64.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.84 $13.84

7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.77 $1.77

42.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.78 $3.78

-11.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.98 $1.98

28.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.73 $2.73

20.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.87 $1.87

-27.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$32.61 $32.61

-22.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.94 $0.94

24.47%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$32.0K $32.0K

12.32%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.0K $27.0K

-2.74%

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

$191 $191

$182 $182

4.90%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$52.7 $52.7

28.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$79.3 $79.3

-22.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$39.42 $39.42

61.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.50 $15.50

16.26%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,636 $1,636

-6.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

20.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$56.5 $56.5

12.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$42.73 $42.73

29.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$98.7 $98.7

1.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$124 $124

23.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,675 $1,675

43.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,390 $1,390

18.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,607 $2,607

75.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,219 $2,219

24.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,551 $2,551

58.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,261 $2,261

21.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$5,700 $5,700

-15.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Apple Valley, CA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,675 in Apple Valley, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Apple Valley, CA pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $48.00 in Apple Valley, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $411 per month, with Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Apple Valley, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Apple Valley, 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,675 in Apple Valley, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,522 in Chicago, IL versus $1,636 in Apple Valley, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Apple Valley, CA – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $88.0 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. Apple Valley, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Apple Valley, 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.

Expats usually find Apple Valley, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.