Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chula Vista, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chula Vista, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.8% more expensive than Chula Vista, CA without rent, and 7.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2% more expensive than Chula Vista, CA without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.27 $18.27
13.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$94.1 $94.1
6.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$15.04 $15.04
-20.41%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.88 $5.88
-5.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.96 $2.96
5.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.2 $2.2
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.39 $7.39
-7.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.14 $8.14
3.81%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.16 $4.16
-0.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.65 $4.65
18.71%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.24 $5.24
-11.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.15 $12.15
17.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.75 $12.75
16.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.37 $15.37
25.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.44 $4.44
16.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.75 $1.75
-2.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.94 $3.94
11.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.67 $4.67
-3.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.92 $2.92
-13.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.46 $2.46
11.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.12 $2.12
14.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.41 $2.41
12.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.87 $10.87
39.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.15 $15.15
8.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.01 $2.01
16.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.25 $3.25
13.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.45 $2.45
3.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$71 $71
4.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.93 $2.93
13.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.67 $1.67
-14.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.39 $28.39
-10.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.3 $1.3
-16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.9K $25.9K
24.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.7K $26.7K
-1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$269 $269
-29.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.9 $52.9
20.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$59.7 $59.7
9.30%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$20.09 $20.09
281.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.8 $14.8
0.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,482 $1,482
39.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$28.3K $28.3K
38.56%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$47.67 $47.67
34.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$57.4 $57.4
-8.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.6 $98.6
-3.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$101 $101
43.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,548 $2,548
-6.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,799 $1,799
-11.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,543 $4,543
4.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,052 $3,052
-7.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,801 $2,801
28.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,425 $2,425
2.68%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Chula Vista, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,866 $4,866
8.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.39
3.29%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chula Vista, CA: October 28, 2025

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