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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.5% more expensive than Davis, CA without rent, and 5.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.6% more expensive than Davis, CA without rent, and 0.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.78 $14.78
40.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65.8 $65.8
52.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.82 $11.82
1.27%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.92 $4.92
13.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.31 $3.31
-6.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.38 $2.38
1.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.82 $7.82
-12.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.01 $8.01
5.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.23 $4.23
-1.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.34 $3.34
65.27%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.15 $5.15
-9.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.27 $12.27
16.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.56 $11.56
28.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$25.03 $25.03
-22.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.7 $4.7
10.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.88 $2.88
-40.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.98 $5.98
-26.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.63 $4.63
-2.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.92 $3.92
-35.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.48 $3.48
-21.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.57 $2.57
-5.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.53 $3.53
-23.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.04 $10.04
51.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.22 $12.22
34.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$8.12 $8.12
-54.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.26 $1.26
100.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.45 $3.45
-3.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.05 $29.05
-12.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.22 $1.22
-11.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.8K $27.8K
16.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24K $24K
9.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$231 $231
-18.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$87 $87
-26.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.3 $70.3
-7.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$56.6 $56.6
35.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.77 $11.77
26.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,507 $1,507
36.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
64.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50 $50
28.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.38 $38.38
36.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.7 $95.7
-0.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$135 $135
6.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,150 $2,150
10.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,891 $1,891
-16.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,413 $3,413
39.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,119 $3,119
-9.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,465 $3,465
3.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,287 $3,287
-24.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Davis, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,901 $4,901
7.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Davis, CA: October 28, 2025

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