Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Encinitas, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Encinitas, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32% more expensive than Encinitas, CA without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.9% more expensive than Encinitas, CA without rent, and 9.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.82 $17.82

16.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.9 $85.9

16.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.93 $11.93

0.34%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.99 $4.99

11.42%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.02 $2.02

53.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.01 $1.01

139.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.02 $7.02

-2.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.91 $6.91

22.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 $1.07

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.11 $4.11

0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.16 $4.16

32.69%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$7.01 $7.01

-33.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.82 $10.82

32.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.81 $8.81

68.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.55 $14.55

32.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.38 $3.38

52.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.94 $1.94

-11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.03 $4.03

9.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.67 $5.67

-20.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.42 $4.42

-42.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.21 $3.21

-14.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.45 $1.45

67.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.11 $2.11

27.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.86 $10.86

39.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$8.84 $8.84

85.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.53 $2.53

-7.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.81 $5.81

-36.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.47 $2.47

2.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$73.1 $73.1

1.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$10.11 $10.11

-66.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.66 $1.66

-14.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.85 $28.85

-11.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.24 $1.24

-12.90%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.1K $24.1K

34.37%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.29%

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

$188 $188

$100 $100

88.26%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.1 $47.1

35.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.7 $59.7

9.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$30.3 $30.3

153.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$19.76 $19.76

-34.06%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.03 $14.03

6.41%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,184 $1,184

74.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

68.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.7 $56.7

13.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.35 $35.35

48.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.2 $80.2

18.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$84 $84

72.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,207 $3,207

-25.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,970 $1,970

-19.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,531 $4,531

5.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,094 $4,094

-31.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$10.2K $10.2K

-64.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$6,915 $6,915

-63.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,343 $7,343

-28.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Encinitas, CA: October 28, 2025

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