Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Cajon, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Cajon, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.9% more expensive than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 7.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.3% more expensive than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.68 $19.68

5.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.6 $79.6

26.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$15.09 $15.09

-20.68%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.17 $5.17

7.54%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.02 $3.02

2.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.55 $2.55

-5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.13 $7.13

-3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.07 $8.07

4.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.16 $1.16

-10.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.3 $4.3

-3.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.44 $4.44

24.32%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.9 $3.9

19.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.55 $13.55

5.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.95 $15.95

-6.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.72 $15.72

23.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.44 $4.44

16.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.91 $3.91

12.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.77 $4.77

-5.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.08 $3.08

-17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.1 $2.1

15.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.37 $2.37

13.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.06 $12.06

25.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.29 $15.29

7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.81 $1.81

29.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.55 $2.55

45.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.93 $1.93

31.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.92 $2.92

14.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.43 $28.43

-10.59%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

28.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.5K $27.5K

-4.51%

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

$188 $188

$155 $155

21.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.9 $54.9

15.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.1 $71.1

-8.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.44 $43.44

76.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.29 $15.29

-2.35%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,500 $1,500

37.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$28.9K $28.9K

35.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.79 $46.79

37.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.14 $33.14

58.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$99.6 $99.6

-4.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$101 $101

43.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,428 $2,428

-2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,939 $1,939

-18.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,953 $2,953

61.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,029 $4,029

-30.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,755 $2,755

30.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,148 $2,148

15.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,070 $4,070

29.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.39

3.29%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

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