Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and California, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and California, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.5% more expensive than California, MD without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19% more expensive than California, MD without rent, and 30.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$9.09 $9.09

129.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.9 $80.9

23.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.05 $10.05

19.10%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.9 $5.9

-5.76%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.76 $2.76

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.24 $2.24

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.34 $5.34

28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.03 $7.03

20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.21 $3.21

29.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.24 $2.24

146.43%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5 $5

-7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.42 $13.42

6.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.3 $10.3

44.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.09 $11.09

74.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.47 $4.47

15.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.8 $1.8

-5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.37 $4.37

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.52 $6.52

-30.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.54 $3.54

-28.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.79 $2.79

-1.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.01 $2.01

34.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.22 $9.22

64.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.8 $13.8

18.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.14 $5.14

-28.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$80 $80

-7.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.04 $4.04

-17.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.4 $1.4

1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.93 $28.93

-12.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.35%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.9K $22.9K

14.55%

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

$188 $188

$207 $207

-9.20%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$41.79 $41.79

52.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.4 $69.4

-6.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$40.07 $40.07

91.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$11.17 $11.17

16.65%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.22 $15.22

-1.91%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,204 $2,204

-6.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

65.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.8 $53.8

19.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.1 $47.1

11.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$95.3 $95.3

-0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$135 $135

7.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,719 $1,719

38.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,329 $1,329

19.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,426 $2,426

96.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,127 $2,127

32.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$6,754 $6,754

-46.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$6,379 $6,379

-60.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,909 $6,909

-23.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.48

1.85%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for California, MD: October 28, 2025

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