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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.6% more expensive than Auburn, CA without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.9% cheaper than Auburn, CA without rent, and 12.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.69 $24.69
-15.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$88.9 $88.9
12.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.17 $12.17
-1.64%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.69 $4.69
18.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.61 $2.61
19.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.17 $2.17
11.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.86 $4.86
41.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.89 $6.89
22.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.21 $1.21
-14.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.49 $4.49
-7.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.42 $6.42
-14.02%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.34 $3.34
39.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$20.86 $20.86
-31.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.97 $14.97
-0.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.76 $16.76
15.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.67 $7.67
-32.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.76 $1.76
-2.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.2 $6.2
-28.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.27 $6.27
-28.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.56 $4.56
-44.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.31 $3.31
-17.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.3 $2.3
17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.2 $11.2
35.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.21 $12.21
34.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.46 $1.46
60.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.95 $1.95
89.74%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.58 $3.58
-6.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.01 $2.01
-29.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$39.67 $39.67
-35.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.29 $1.29
-16.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.8K $23.8K
36.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.8K $24.8K
5.64%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$277 $277
-32.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51 $51
24.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.3 $70.3
-7.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$64.7 $64.7
18.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.27 $14.27
4.63%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,727 $2,727
-24.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$6,117 $6,117
540.48%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.5 $53.5
20.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.27 $39.27
33.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$66.1 $66.1
44.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$124 $124
16.97%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,873 $1,873
26.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,572 $1,572
0.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,778 $2,778
71.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,345 $2,345
20.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,286 $3,286
9.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,741 $2,741
-9.15%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Auburn, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,035 $4,035
30.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Auburn, CA: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.