Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Atascadero, CA: $2,656 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Atascadero, CA
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Atascadero, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Atascadero, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,656

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Atascadero, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Atascadero, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,656 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Atascadero, CA $2,656

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,825 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Atascadero, CA $3,825

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,993 in Atascadero, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Atascadero, CA $4,993

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Atascadero, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Atascadero, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Atascadero, CA by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.75 $19.75

3.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$35.49 $35.49

149.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$9.30 $9.30

38.17%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.33 $4.33

33.49%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.48 $2.48

10.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.02 $2.02

11.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.92 $5.92

16.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$4.89 $4.89

88.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.05 $1.05

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.17 $2.17

63.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$7.73 $7.73

-30.40%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$6.12 $6.12

-25.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$12.20 $12.20

11.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$16.79 $16.79

-16.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$18.25 $18.25

-1.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.12 $5.12

0.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.14 $3.14

-36.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.27 $4.27

-9.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.66 $4.66

3.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.84 $2.84

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.48 $4.48

-40.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$4.97 $4.97

-58.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.23 $2.23

35.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.76 $11.76

18.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$25.27 $25.27

-40.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.06 $2.06

27.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.41 $3.41

1.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.79 $1.79

35.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$53.8 $53.8

40.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.95 $3.95

-19.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.83 $1.83

-7.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$35.33 $35.33

-29.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.58 $1.58

-18.99%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$30.7K $30.7K

16.42%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.62%

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

$192 $192

$200 $200

-3.84%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$39.90 $39.90

74.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$88.2 $88.2

-29.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$40.59 $40.59

17.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$17.12 $17.12

4.15%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$2,463 $2,463

-26.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

54.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$24.88 $24.88

166.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$63.5 $63.5

-19.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$90.6 $90.6

14.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$160 $160

-10.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,573 $1,573

60.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,253 $1,253

29.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,597 $2,597

85.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,121 $2,121

28.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,568 $2,568

62.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,523 $2,523

7.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.47

4.79%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Atascadero, CA: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Atascadero, CA

$1.3K 47.1% 22.7% $369

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Atascadero, CA

$479 18.1% 9.2% $40

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Atascadero, CA

$295 11.1% 14.2% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Atascadero, CA

$328 12.3% 1.2% $4

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Atascadero, CA

$152 5.7% 6.8% $11

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Atascadero, CA

$74 2.8% 23.5% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Atascadero, CA

$75 2.8% 10.3% $8.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,573 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $35 in Atascadero, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Chicago, IL vs $479 in Atascadero, CA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Atascadero, CA

🕒 Local time

10:29 10:29 AM

08:29 8:29 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

30,330

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Atascadero, CA 2,940 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Atascadero, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 16%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,985 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,573 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 29% less in Atascadero, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,815 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,463 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,656 in Atascadero, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,656 in Atascadero, CA to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.