Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dana Point, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dana Point, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.7% cheaper than Dana Point, CA without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.4% more expensive than Dana Point, CA without rent, and 13.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.38 $25.38

-17.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.6 $99.6

0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.03 $12.03

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.84 $5.84

-4.79%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.87 $2.87

8.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.25 $2.25

7.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.02 $8.02

-14.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.86 $9.86

-14.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.18 $1.18

-11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.47 $4.47

-7.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.72 $5.72

-3.50%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.09 $4.09

13.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.58 $12.58

13.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.19 $13.19

12.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.71 $15.71

23.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.32 $5.32

-2.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.64 $2.64

-35.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.66 $3.66

20.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.71 $4.71

-4.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.47 $2.47

10.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.86 $1.86

30.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.61 $11.61

30.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.33 $13.33

23.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.49 $2.49

-5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.29 $3.29

12.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.07 $3.07

8.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.01 $2.01

-29.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.24 $29.24

-13.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.23 $1.23

-12.20%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$31.8K $31.8K

1.92%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.91%

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

$188 $188

$181 $181

3.83%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$66.7 $66.7

-4.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$70.6 $70.6

-7.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.29 $43.29

77.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$17.85 $17.85

-16.36%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,769 $1,769

16.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$62.1 $62.1

3.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.02 $47.02

11.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$147 $147

-1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,020 $3,020

-21.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,375 $1,375

15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,970 $4,970

-4.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,956 $3,956

-28.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$9,769 $9,769

-63.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,306 $2,306

7.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,532 $7,532

-29.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Dana Point, CA: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States