Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Foster City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Foster City, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.6% more expensive than Foster City, CA without rent, and 25.7% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.6% more expensive than Foster City, CA without rent, and 19.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.05 $15.05

38.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69.5 $69.5

44.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.1 $11.1

7.84%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.94 $4.94

12.55%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.33 $3.33

-6.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.5 $2.5

-3.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$9.2 $9.2

-25.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$10.89 $10.89

-22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.33 $3.33

24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.24 $2.24

146.43%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.06 $3.06

51.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.24 $16.24

-11.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.23 $11.23

32.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.13 $20.13

-3.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.21 $6.21

-16.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.47 $2.47

-30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.75 $4.75

-7.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.25 $3.25

38.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.34 $3.34

-24.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.36 $4.36

-37.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.03 $3.03

-19.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.46 $1.46

84.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.38 $11.38

33.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.99 $11.99

36.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.33 $2.33

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.31 $3.31

11.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.64 $3.64

-30.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$191 $191

-61.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.85 $1.85

-23.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$30.16 $30.16

-15.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.28 $1.28

-15.62%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.9K $29.9K

8.41%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.05%

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

$188 $188

$270 $270

-30.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.14 $49.14

29.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.9 $68.9

-5.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.62 $42.62

80.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.35 $15.35

-2.74%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,978 $1,978

4.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

48.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.18 $46.18

39.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$29.75 $29.75

76.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$65.7 $65.7

44.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$49.86 $49.86

190.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,056 $3,056

-22.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,558 $2,558

-38.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,515 $4,515

5.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,522 $4,522

-37.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$10.8K $10.8K

-66.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$9,784 $9,784

-74.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,087 $7,087

-25.57%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Foster City, CA: October 27, 2025

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