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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.4% more expensive than Fremont, CA without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.1% more expensive than Fremont, CA without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.45 $20.45
1.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.2 $81.2
23.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.34 $12.34
-3.00%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.86 $5.86
-5.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.18 $3.18
-2.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.41 $2.41
0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.54 $7.54
-9.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.24 $8.24
2.55%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.42 $1.42
-26.76%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.78 $4.78
-13.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.16 $3.16
74.68%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$7.61 $7.61
-38.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$20.87 $20.87
-31.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.5 $15.5
-4.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$23.36 $23.36
-17.21%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.03 $6.03
-14.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.97 $1.97
-13.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.94 $3.94
11.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.24 $5.24
-13.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.3 $2.3
10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.27 $3.27
-16.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.07 $3.07
-20.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.8 $2.8
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.42 $11.42
33.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.18 $15.18
8.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.08 $2.08
12.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.69 $2.69
37.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$5.36 $5.36
-52.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$82.3 $82.3
-9.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.9 $1.9
-25.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.7 $29.7
-14.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.31 $1.31
-17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.9K $26.9K
-2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$306 $306
-38.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.44 $47.44
34.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68 $68
-4.12%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$36.58 $36.58
109.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$8.13 $8.13
60.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.73 $14.73
1.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,583 $1,583
30.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$26K $26K
50.75%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.03 $45.03
42.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.84 $43.84
19.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$80.9 $80.9
17.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
26.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,339 $2,339
1.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,209 $2,209
-28.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,034 $4,034
18.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,764 $3,764
-25.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$6,343 $6,343
-43.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,825 $4,825
-48.39%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fremont, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,820 $7,820
-32.55%
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 Fremont, CA: October 27, 2025

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