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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.6% more expensive than Cupertino, CA without rent, and 7.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.1% more expensive than Cupertino, CA without rent, and 13.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.14 $22.14
-5.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$66.8 $66.8
50.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.01 $10.01
19.58%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.25 $5.25
5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.57 $2.57
21.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.54 $2.54
-4.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.96 $5.96
15.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.46 $8.46
-0.12%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.28 $1.28
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.6 $3.6
15.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.32 $4.32
27.78%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.59 $3.59
29.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.71 $8.71
64.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.92 $10.92
36.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.8 $10.8
79.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.18 $6.18
-16.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 $1.71
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.37 $4.37
0.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.56 $5.56
-18.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.89 $3.89
-34.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$5.82 $5.82
-52.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.86 $1.86
30.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.03 $2.03
33.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.84 $9.84
54.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.46 $10.46
56.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.16 $2.16
8.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.48 $2.48
49.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$140 $140
-46.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.57 $3.57
-6.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.65 $29.65
-14.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.27 $1.27
-14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.8K $30.8K
5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27K $27K
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$189 $189
-0.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.5 $50.5
26.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.9 $65.9
-0.99%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$45.61 $45.61
68.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$17.91 $17.91
-16.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,121 $2,121
-2.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.58%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$31.36 $31.36
105.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.58 $34.58
51.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$70.4 $70.4
35.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$69.9 $69.9
107.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,429 $2,429
-2.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,925 $1,925
-17.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,450 $4,450
7.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,110 $4,110
-31.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,745 $2,745
30.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,171 $2,171
14.72%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Cupertino, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,637 $7,637
-30.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cupertino, CA: October 29, 2025

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