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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.8% more expensive than Berkeley, CA without rent, and 23.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.9% cheaper than Berkeley, CA without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.11 $22.11
-5.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.34 $11.34
5.56%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.96 $5.96
-6.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.25 $3.25
-4.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.57 $2.57
-5.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.81 $7.81
-12.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.18 $9.18
-7.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.51 $1.51
-31.13%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.84 $4.84
-14.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.4 $6.4
-13.75%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.99 $4.99
-6.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$21.54 $21.54
-33.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.24 $15.24
-2.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$23.02 $23.02
-15.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.21 $6.21
-16.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.69 $2.69
-36.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.94 $4.94
-10.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.94 $6.94
-35.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.62 $3.62
-30.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.99 $3.99
-31.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.88 $2.88
-15.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.75 $2.75
-1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.23 $12.23
24.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.64 $17.64
-6.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.35 $2.35
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.25 $3.25
13.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.55 $2.55
-0.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$86.2 $86.2
-13.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.57 $3.57
-6.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.94 $1.94
-26.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.55 $29.55
-13.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.27 $1.27
-14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
7.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.1K $27.1K
-3.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$220 $220
-14.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.14 $48.14
32.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67 $67
-2.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$69.7 $69.7
10.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$7.19 $7.19
81.22%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.54 $15.54
-3.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,142 $2,142
-3.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$31.7K $31.7K
23.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$67.4 $67.4
-4.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.74 $46.74
12.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$148 $148
-2.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,253 $2,253
5.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,295 $2,295
-30.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,750 $4,750
0.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,897 $3,897
-27.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$8,092 $8,092
-55.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$8,148 $8,148
-69.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,617 $6,617
-20.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Berkeley, CA: October 26, 2025

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