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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.2% more expensive than Chester, CA without rent, and 9.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 32.5% more expensive than Chester, CA without rent, and 21.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.24 $15.24

36.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$55.2 $55.2

81.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.38 $10.38

15.32%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.35 $5.35

3.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.97 $1.97

57.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.46 $1.46

65.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.11 $5.11

34.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.37 $6.37

32.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.23 $1.23

-15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.28 $4.28

-3.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.46 $5.46

1.10%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.47 $4.47

4.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.5 $15.5

-7.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.87 $14.87

0.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.87 $18.87

2.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.31 $5.31

-2.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.07 $2.07

-17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.06 $4.06

8.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.01 $7.01

-35.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.79 $3.79

-33.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.72 $4.72

-41.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.78 $2.78

-12.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.38 $2.38

13.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.75 $8.75

73.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.26 $17.26

-4.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.06 $2.06

14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.97 $2.97

24.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.03 $4.03

-17.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.9 $1.9

-25.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.14 $27.14

-6.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.3K $30.3K

7.13%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.7K $28.7K

-8.75%

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

$188 $188

$251 $251

-25.16%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.5 $59.5

7.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$74.1 $74.1

-12.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.94 $42.94

78.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.25 $14.25

4.77%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,680 $1,680

22.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.5K $27.5K

42.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$59.6 $59.6

7.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$65.1 $65.1

-19.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$92.2 $92.2

3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$125 $125

15.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,625 $1,625

46.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,344 $1,344

17.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,636 $2,636

80.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,192 $2,192

28.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,618 $2,618

37.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,764 $2,764

-9.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chester, CA: October 28, 2025

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