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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.8% more expensive than El Cerrito, CA without rent, and 10.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.3% cheaper than El Cerrito, CA without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.28 $20.28
2.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$15.09 $15.09
-20.68%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.81 $5.81
-4.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.23 $3.23
-3.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.36 $2.36
2.54%
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
$8.18 $8.18
3.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.45 $1.45
-28.28%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.01 $5.01
-17.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.31 $3.31
66.77%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.02 $5.02
-7.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$23.76 $23.76
-39.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.23 $15.23
-2.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$24.3 $24.3
-20.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.06 $7.06
-26.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.44 $2.44
-29.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.3 $5.3
-16.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.8 $6.8
-33.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.72 $3.72
-31.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.86 $3.86
-29.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.82 $2.82
-13.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.83 $2.83
-4.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.45 $11.45
32.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.8 $13.8
18.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.33 $2.33
0.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.33 $3.33
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.55 $3.55
-28.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$81.6 $81.6
-9.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.55 $3.55
-5.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.89 $1.89
-24.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.78 $29.78
-14.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.33 $1.33
-18.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.8K $29.8K
8.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$288 $288
-34.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.3 $54.3
17.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.1 $68.1
-4.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.41 $43.41
76.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.66 $15.66
-4.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,212 $2,212
-6.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
51.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.6 $53.6
20.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.21 $44.21
18.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$89.1 $89.1
6.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$135 $135
6.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,878 $1,878
26.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,754 $1,754
-9.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,236 $3,236
47.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,056 $3,056
-7.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,921 $2,921
22.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,188 $2,188
13.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
El Cerrito, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,464 $6,464
-18.40%
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 El Cerrito, CA: October 29, 2025

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