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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.7% more expensive than Escondido, CA without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 33.1% more expensive than Escondido, CA without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.71 $17.71

17.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.6 $81.6

23.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.78 $14.78

-19.01%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.91 $4.91

13.24%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.43 $2.43

27.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.05 $2.05

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.04 $6.04

13.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.07 $7.07

19.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.35 $3.35

23.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.32 $4.32

27.78%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.32 $3.32

40.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$8.92 $8.92

60.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.56 $6.56

126.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.66 $15.66

23.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.16 $3.16

63.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.74 $1.74

-1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.54 $1.54

186.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.99 $1.99

126.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.25 $2.25

12.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.18 $2.18

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.05 $2.05

31.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.2 $11.2

35.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$4.94 $4.94

232.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.39 $1.39

69.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.41 $3.41

8.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.43 $6.43

-48.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.56 $29.56

-14.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

28.14%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.90%

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

$188 $188

$160 $160

17.93%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.4 $53.4

19.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$55.1 $55.1

18.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$35.66 $35.66

115.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.81 $14.81

0.81%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,530 $1,530

34.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$47.75 $47.75

34.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.37 $34.37

52.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$79.4 $79.4

19.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$99.1 $99.1

46.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,670 $2,670

-10.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,463 $2,463

-35.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,598 $2,598

83.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,687 $2,687

4.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,414 $7,414

-51.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$7,450 $7,450

-66.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,974 $6,974

-24.37%

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 Escondido, CA: October 29, 2025

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