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 13.8% more expensive than Elk Grove, CA without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than Elk Grove, CA without rent, and 23.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.62 $20.62
$18.99 $18.99
8.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$76.4 $76.4
32.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$10.84 $10.84
8.67%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$5.04 $5.04
14.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.56 $2.56
16.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.04 $2.04
20.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.8 $6.8
$5.9 $5.9
15.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.48 $8.48
$7.01 $7.01
20.97%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.1 $4.1
$3.58 $3.58
14.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$4.32 $4.32
24.07%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.16 $4.16
9.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.35 $14.35
$12.47 $12.47
15.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.2 $15.2
$11.53 $11.53
31.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 $18.97
$15.24 $15.24
24.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$4.86 $4.86
11.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.63 $1.63
5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.38 $4.38
0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.67 $4.67
-5.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.9 $2.9
-11.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.9 $2.9
-7.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.08 $2.08
15.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.09 $2.09
30.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.82 $14.82
$9.77 $9.77
51.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 $16.71
$20.03 $20.03
-16.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.78 $1.78
37.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.32 $3.32
7.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.02 $2.02
25.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.2 $76.2
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.4 $3.4
-2.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.64 $1.64
-15.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.15 $25.15
$28.78 $28.78
-12.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.9 $0.9
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K $31.5K
$29.4K $29.4K
7.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$186 $186
-1.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.6 $62.6
$52 $52
20.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$120 $120
-44.69%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.7 $77.7
$43.31 $43.31
79.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.18 $13.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$13.36 $13.36
12.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,022 $2,022
$1,301 $1,301
55.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39K $39K
$23.5K $23.5K
66.33%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$50.1 $50.1
26.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3 $52.3
$40.16 $40.16
30.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 $95.9
$88.2 $88.2
8.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$113 $113
30.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,302 $2,302
$1,612 $1,612
42.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$1,364 $1,364
18.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,642 $4,642
$2,603 $2,603
78.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,200 $2,200
27.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,708 $3,708
$2,729 $2,729
35.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,559 $2,559
$2,483 $2,483
3.03%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Elk Grove, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,228 $5,228
-
-
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: November 5, 2025

Last update for Elk Grove, CA: November 5, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.