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 $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,744 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,933 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,123 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Atascadero, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Atascadero, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Atascadero, CA by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.77 $19.77

5.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$81.1 $81.1

21.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.25 $9.25

28.65%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.71 $5.71

2.28%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.82 $2.82

8.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.61 $2.61

-9.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.96 $6.96

-1.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$4.90 $4.90

64.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.13 $1.13

-7.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.48 $4.48

-11.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.64 $5.64

-0.71%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.85 $5.85

-22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$15.27 $15.27

-7.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.40 $10.40

43.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.51 $15.51

23.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.35 $3.35

58.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.95 $1.95

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.38 $3.38

25.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.21 $3.21

36.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.77 $2.77

-7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.83 $2.83

-1.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.11 $2.11

17.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.03 $2.03

33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$11.17 $11.17

33.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.79 $15.79

-6.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.80 $1.80

31.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.78 $2.78

28.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.03 $2.03

20.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$44.61 $44.61

68.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$6.36 $6.36

-47.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.04 $2.04

-32.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$37.81 $37.81

-33.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.31 $1.31

-16.79%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$24.0K $24.0K

34.45%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.7K $27.7K

-4.71%

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

$188 $188

$253 $253

-25.74%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$47.13 $47.13

34.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$70.5 $70.5

-6.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.18 $42.18

79.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.28 $12.28

20.52%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$2,308 $2,308

-9.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$34.7K $34.7K

11.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$64.2 $64.2

1.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$50.4 $50.4

2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$80.6 $80.6

19.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$111 $111

31.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,617 $1,617

44.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,371 $1,371

15.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,767 $2,767

72.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,199 $2,199

23.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,116 $3,116

29.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,179 $2,179

23.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Atascadero, CA: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,617 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Atascadero, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $397 – 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 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,116 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.

Public transport costs about 69% less in Atascadero, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,097 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,308 in Atascadero, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,744 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.