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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17% more expensive than El Centro, CA without rent, and 18.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 41.3% more expensive than El Centro, CA without rent, and 33% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$12.07 $12.07

72.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$39.7 $39.7

152.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$15.08 $15.08

-20.62%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.11 $4.11

35.28%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.06 $2.06

50.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.06 $3.06

124.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.06 $7.06

19.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.11 $1.11

-6.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.28 $4.28

-3.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.82 $4.82

14.52%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.82 $3.82

21.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.19 $12.19

17.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.91 $15.91

-6.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.72 $15.72

23.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.4 $4.4

17.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.73 $1.73

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.25 $5.25

-16.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.71 $5.71

-21.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.24 $3.24

-21.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.94 $2.94

-6.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.1 $2.1

15.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.08 $2.08

29.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.87 $10.87

39.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.34 $13.34

23.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.92 $1.92

22.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.55 $3.55

4.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.52 $6.52

-48.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.7 $2.7

-47.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.79 $28.79

-11.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.28 $1.28

-15.62%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$26K $26K

24.82%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$29.4K $29.4K

-10.90%

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

$188 $188

$158 $158

18.95%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.2 $53.2

19.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$57.9 $57.9

12.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.58 $42.58

80.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.04 $15.04

-0.73%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,501 $1,501

37.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

66.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.75 $46.75

37.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.77 $33.77

55.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

41.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,623 $1,623

46.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,369 $1,369

15.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,629 $2,629

81.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,232 $2,232

26.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,434 $2,434

47.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,662 $2,662

-6.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.64

-0.60%

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 Centro, CA: October 29, 2025

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