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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.7% more expensive than Dublin, CA without rent, and 16.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.5% more expensive than Dublin, CA without rent, and 26% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$29.94 $29.94
-30.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$50.4 $50.4
98.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.06 $14.06
-14.86%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.5 $6.5
-14.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.59 $3.59
-13.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$3.42 $3.42
-29.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.98 $8.98
-23.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.17 $9.17
-7.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.48 $4.48
-7.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.18 $3.18
73.58%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.35 $5.35
-13.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$6.7 $6.7
113.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.91 $10.91
36.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.45 $12.45
55.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.67 $4.67
10.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$3.76 $3.76
-54.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.5 $4.5
-2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.5 $4.5
0.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.87 $2.87
-11.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.13 $2.13
28.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.96 $1.96
23.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.65 $2.65
1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.79 $8.79
72.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.82 $13.82
18.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.07 $2.07
13.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.35 $2.35
57.45%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.59 $4.59
-27.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.92 $1.92
-26.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.19 $30.19
-15.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.26 $1.26
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.6K $29.6K
9.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27K $27K
-2.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$74.2 $74.2
153.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$39.16 $39.16
62.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.6 $63.6
2.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.51 $42.51
80.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$18.35 $18.35
-18.64%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,142 $1,142
80.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.4K $24.4K
60.65%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56 $56
14.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.74 $40.74
28.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$77.2 $77.2
23.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$80.1 $80.1
80.60%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,598 $1,598
48.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,337 $1,337
18.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,626 $2,626
81.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,217 $2,217
26.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,668 $2,668
34.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,093 $2,093
18.98%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Dublin, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,203 $3,203
64.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Dublin, CA: October 27, 2025

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