Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Costa Mesa, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Costa Mesa, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.5% more expensive than Costa Mesa, CA without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.7% more expensive than Costa Mesa, CA without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.92 $19.92

4.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.2 $79.2

26.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.8 $11.8

1.44%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.32 $5.32

4.51%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.35 $3.35

-7.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.23 $2.23

8.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.04 $7.04

-2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.9 $7.9

6.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.12 $1.12

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.08 $4.08

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.31 $4.31

28.07%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.93 $4.93

-5.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.55 $10.55

35.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.47 $8.47

75.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.27 $14.27

35.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.52 $4.52

14.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.96 $1.96

-12.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.5 $4.5

-2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.48 $5.48

-17.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.37 $4.37

-42.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.08 $2.08

16.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.79 $10.79

40.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.46 $13.46

21.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2 $2

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.41 $3.41

8.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.56 $6.56

-49.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.81 $2.81

-49.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.36 $29.36

-13.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 $1.25

-13.60%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24K $24K

35.18%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.65%

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

$188 $188

$291 $291

-35.35%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.8 $52.8

20.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.5 $60.5

7.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$39.34 $39.34

95.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.91 $14.91

0.13%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,206 $1,206

71.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

64.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.6 $55.6

15.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.5 $34.5

51.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.3 $87.3

9.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

41.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,804 $2,804

-15.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,474 $2,474

-35.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,947 $3,947

20.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,887 $3,887

-27.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,932 $2,932

22.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,360 $2,360

5.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,322 $6,322

-16.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: October 28, 2025

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