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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.2% more expensive than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 16.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.9% more expensive than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.62 $20.62

$19.75 $19.75

4.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$84 $84

20.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$11.83 $11.83

-0.42%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.98 $4.98

16.06%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.63 $2.63

13.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.96 $1.96

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.8 $6.8

$6.89 $6.89

-1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 $8.48

$7.09 $7.09

19.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.11 $1.11

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$3.98 $3.98

3.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.16 $4.16

28.85%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.53 $5.53

-17.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$10.7 $10.7

34.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.2 $15.2

$8.6 $8.6

76.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 $18.97

$14.61 $14.61

29.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$3.49 $3.49

55.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.81 $1.81

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.84 $2.84

54.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$5.67 $5.67

-22.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.54 $3.54

-27.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.26 $3.26

-17.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.39 $1.39

73.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.17 $2.17

25.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$10.87 $10.87

36.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.71 $16.71

$14.85 $14.85

12.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.49 $1.49

64.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.14 $1.14

214.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.57 $2.57

-1.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

$174 $174

-56.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$9.85 $9.85

-66.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.69 $1.69

-17.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$34.69 $34.69

-27.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.22 $1.22

-13.93%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$23.6K $23.6K

33.44%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

10.17%

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

$182 $182

$246 $246

-25.91%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$46.92 $46.92

33.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$60.8 $60.8

9.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$81.8 $81.8

-5.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.18 $13.18

$32.66 $32.66

-59.64%

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$21.4 $21.4

-30.00%

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

$2,022 $2,022

$1,227 $1,227

64.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39K $39K

$23.2K $23.2K

68.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$53.8 $53.8

17.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$23.95 $23.95

118.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$77.1 $77.1

24.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$85.5 $85.5

73.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$2,623 $2,623

-12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$2,207 $2,207

-26.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,642 $4,642

$4,297 $4,297

8.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,484 $3,484

-19.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,708 $3,708

$6,818 $6,818

-45.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,559 $2,559

$6,129 $6,129

-58.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$6,676 $6,676

-21.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.97

10.55%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: November 4, 2025

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