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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.6% more expensive than Fairfield, CA without rent, and 24.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.6% more expensive than Fairfield, CA without rent, and 14.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.77 $21.77
-4.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.8 $79.8
25.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.22 $12.22
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.77 $4.77
16.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.84 $2.84
9.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.98 $1.98
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.43 $7.43
-7.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.9 $6.9
22.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.21 $1.21
-14.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.08 $4.08
1.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.48 $4.48
23.21%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.22 $5.22
-10.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.57 $13.57
5.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.07 $11.07
34.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.97 $17.97
7.62%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.85 $7.85
-34.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.78 $2.78
-38.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.71 $5.71
-22.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$7.48 $7.48
-39.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.88 $3.88
-34.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.8 $3.8
-27.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.16 $2.16
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.04 $2.04
32.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.12 $12.12
25.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$8.74 $8.74
87.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.73 $1.73
35.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.63 $2.63
40.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$88 $88
-15.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.92 $2.92
14.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.88 $1.88
-24.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.36 $29.36
-13.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.32 $1.32
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.4K $33.4K
-2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.6K $27.6K
-4.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$227 $227
-17.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.3 $50.3
26.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74 $74
-11.92%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$126 $126
-38.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$74.8 $74.8
-82.58%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.73 $13.73
8.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,844 $1,844
11.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$20.2K $20.2K
93.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$58.4 $58.4
10.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$41.8 $41.8
25.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.1 $84.1
13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$111 $111
30.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,476 $2,476
-3.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,400 $2,400
-33.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,356 $3,356
41.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,687 $3,687
-23.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,773 $3,773
-4.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,675 $3,675
-32.24%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,192 $5,192
1.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.52
1.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fairfield, CA: October 26, 2025

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