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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.7% more expensive than Brea, CA without rent, and 15.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 35.7% more expensive than Brea, CA without rent, and 4.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.31 $20.31

2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$86.4 $86.4

16.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.13 $10.13

18.16%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.04 $5.04

10.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.6 $2.6

19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.08 $7.08

-3.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.87 $6.87

23.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 $1.07

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.08 $4.08

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.82 $4.82

14.52%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.63 $4.63

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.59 $12.59

13.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.72 $11.72

26.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.81 $14.81

30.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.54 $3.54

46.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.86 $1.86

-8.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.93 $3.93

12.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.52 $5.52

-18.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.32 $3.32

-23.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.98 $2.98

-8.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.93 $9.93

52.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.1 $12.1

35.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.75 $4.75

-22.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.95 $3.95

-15.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.78 $2.78

-48.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$32.1 $32.1

-20.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.24 $1.24

-12.90%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

31.36%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.02%

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

$188 $188

$203 $203

-7.39%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.46 $46.46

37.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.6 $59.6

9.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.97 $42.97

78.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.88 $13.88

7.56%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,187 $1,187

73.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.5K $39.5K

-0.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$69 $69

-6.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.41 $34.41

52.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86 $86

10.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$123 $123

17.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,627 $1,627

46.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,341 $1,341

18.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,802 $2,802

70.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,078 $3,078

-8.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,822 $2,822

27.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,424 $2,424

2.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$10.1K $10.1K

-47.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brea, CA: October 29, 2025

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