Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elk Grove, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elk Grove, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.3% more expensive than Elk Grove, CA without rent, and 15.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.8% more expensive than Elk Grove, CA without rent, and 22.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$18.83 $18.83
6.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$74.9 $74.9
35.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$11.12 $11.12
8.09%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.14 $5.14
9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.47 $2.47
21.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.05 $2.05
14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$6.06 $6.06
15.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.87 $6.87
23.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.55 $3.55
16.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.30 $4.30
29.53%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$4.30 $4.30
4.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$12.16 $12.16
18.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.39 $11.39
31.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$15.41 $15.41
23.17%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.79 $4.79
8.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.57 $1.57
13.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.18 $4.18
3.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.66 $4.66
-2.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.77 $2.77
-7.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.91 $2.91
-6.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.08 $2.08
19.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.18 $2.18
20.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$9.53 $9.53
58.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$21.22 $21.22
-29.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.83 $1.83
34.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.28 $3.28
11.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.95 $1.95
31.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.58 $3.58
-7.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.61 $1.61
-14.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.33 $29.33
-14.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.88 $0.88
20.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
4.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$184 $184
1.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$52.7 $52.7
19.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$119 $119
-44.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$43.18 $43.18
74.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$13.33 $13.33
13.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,275 $1,275
62.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$23.0K $23.0K
68.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$50.5 $50.5
26.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$39.24 $39.24
29.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$87.9 $87.9
10.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$113 $113
27.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,606 $1,606
45.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,348 $1,348
19.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,666 $2,666
78.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,234 $2,234
23.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$4,013 $4,013
-6.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$3,211 $3,211
-18.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$7,739 $7,739
-35.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Elk Grove, CA: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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