Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Castro Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Castro Valley, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.2% more expensive than Castro Valley, CA without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.3% more expensive than Castro Valley, CA without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$21.7 $21.7

-4.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$78 $78

28.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.84 $10.84

10.42%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.86 $5.86

-5.12%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.85 $2.85

9.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.85 $2.85

-15.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.32 $7.32

-6.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.26 $9.26

-8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.32 $1.32

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.34 $4.34

-4.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.17 $3.17

74.13%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.63 $4.63

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.92 $10.92

31.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.4 $9.4

58.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.65 $12.65

52.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.51 $4.51

14.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.71 $2.71

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.14 $3.14

40.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.99 $4.99

-9.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.02 $3.02

-16.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.44 $3.44

-20.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.21 $2.21

9.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.06 $11.06

37.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.58 $17.58

-6.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.79 $1.79

31.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.68 $2.68

38.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.34 $3.34

-24.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.46 $4.46

-25.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.87 $1.87

-24.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.83 $29.83

-14.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.21 $1.21

-10.74%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.1K $30.1K

7.82%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.4K $27.4K

-4.31%

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

$188 $188

$203 $203

-7.28%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.52 $47.52

34.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.1 $69.1

-5.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.11 $43.11

77.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.86 $15.86

-5.86%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,557 $1,557

32.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.2 $55.2

16.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.37 $34.37

52.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$76 $76

25.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$79.2 $79.2

82.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,313 $2,313

2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,045 $2,045

-22.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,660 $2,660

79.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,246 $2,246

25.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,652 $7,652

-53.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$7,583 $7,583

-67.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,901 $5,901

-10.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Castro Valley, CA: October 28, 2025

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