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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.9% more expensive than Belmont, CA without rent, and 12.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 22% more expensive than Belmont, CA without rent, and 25.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.73 $20.73
0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.4 $64.4
55.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.92 $10.92
9.62%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.81 $5.81
-4.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.16 $2.16
43.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.37 $2.37
2.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.17 $6.17
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.84 $7.84
7.78%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.33 $1.33
-21.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.7 $3.7
12.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.18 $3.18
73.58%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.52 $3.52
32.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.16 $11.16
28.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.82 $10.82
37.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.33 $14.33
34.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.78 $3.78
36.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.25 $2.25
-24.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.38 $2.38
85.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.25 $2.25
100.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.47 $2.47
2.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.13 $3.13
-12.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.43 $2.43
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.01 $1.01
167.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.09 $11.09
36.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.13 $12.13
35.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.15 $2.15
9.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.47 $2.47
49.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$64 $64
15.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.45 $3.45
-3.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.95 $1.95
-27.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.11 $30.11
-15.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.33 $1.33
-18.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.3K $27.3K
18.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$278 $278
-32.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.36 $48.36
31.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$69.4 $69.4
-6.11%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.87 $42.87
78.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.43 $15.43
-3.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,984 $1,984
3.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
53.56%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.1 $53.1
21.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.46 $34.46
52.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$89.2 $89.2
6.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$139 $139
4.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,254 $2,254
5.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,359 $1,359
16.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,668 $2,668
78.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,196 $2,196
28.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,498 $2,498
43.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,447 $2,447
1.77%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Belmont, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$9,100 $9,100
-42.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.32
4.43%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Belmont, CA: October 29, 2025

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