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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,700 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,843 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,986 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 15% more than Atascadero, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Atascadero, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Atascadero, CA by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.17 $20.17

-1.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$35.24 $35.24

151.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.74 $9.74

32.85%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.20 $4.20

31.90%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.55 $2.55

7.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.04 $2.04

15.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.92 $5.92

20.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$4.92 $4.92

77.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.22 $2.22

87.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.12 $4.12

39.08%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.90 $5.90

-17.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$19.89 $19.89

-25.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.00 $14.00

6.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$22.25 $22.25

-11.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.16 $5.16

7.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.00 $2.00

-4.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.45 $5.45

-23.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.52 $5.52

-11.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.54 $3.54

-19.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.03 $3.03

-7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.35 $2.35

-6.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.51 $2.51

21.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$11.94 $11.94

35.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.30 $15.30

-3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.52 $2.52

0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.39 $3.39

-1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.20 $2.20

15.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.42 $3.42

-3.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$3.09 $3.09

-55.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$29.59 $29.59

-15.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.51 $1.51

-22.52%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-2.17%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.55%

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

$191 $191

$277 $277

-30.99%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$39.29 $39.29

72.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$81.6 $81.6

-24.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$40.91 $40.91

55.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$16.83 $16.83

7.07%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,841 $1,841

-17.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$39.8K $39.8K

-21.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$25.48 $25.48

149.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$51.3 $51.3

7.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$101 $101

-0.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$119 $119

28.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,602 $1,602

50.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,287 $1,287

28.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,456 $2,456

86.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,117 $2,117

30.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$3,008 $3,008

34.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,665 $2,665

3.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.17

3.40%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Atascadero, CA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,602 in Atascadero, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $35.00 in Atascadero, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $462 – making Atascadero, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Atascadero, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,049 in Atascadero, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atascadero, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $35.00 in Atascadero, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,700 in Atascadero, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Atascadero, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Atascadero, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.