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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11% more expensive than Fresno, CA without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.7% more expensive than Fresno, CA without rent, and 15.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.81 $19.81

5.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69.9 $69.9

43.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.3 $11.3

5.93%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.02 $5.02

10.76%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.83 $2.83

9.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.08 $2.08

16.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.16 $8.16

-15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.76 $8.76

-3.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 $1.01

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.8 $2.8

48.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.72 $4.72

16.95%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.51 $4.51

3.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.41 $10.41

37.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.34 $8.34

78.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.67 $16.67

16.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.34 $4.34

19.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.04 $2.04

-16.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.5 $3.5

26.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.37 $3.37

33.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.9 $2.9

-12.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.05 $2.05

33.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.93 $1.93

25.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.24 $3.24

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.33 $11.33

34.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.77 $14.77

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.6 $5.6

-33.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.28 $1.28

97.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$45.12 $45.12

64.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.49 $3.49

-4.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$25.33 $25.33

0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.22 $1.22

-11.48%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$36.8K $36.8K

-12.01%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.9K $28.9K

-9.35%

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

$188 $188

$305 $305

-38.21%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$51 $51

25.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$83.5 $83.5

-21.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$72.8 $72.8

5.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$76.5 $76.5

-82.97%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.36 $14.36

3.97%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$957 $957

115.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$13.1K $13.1K

198.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.2 $56.2

14.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.1 $47.1

11.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74.1 $74.1

28.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$168 $168

-13.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,613 $1,613

47.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,518 $1,518

4.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,367 $2,367

101.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,300 $2,300

22.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,793 $2,793

28.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,726 $2,726

-8.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,602 $3,602

46.44%

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 Fresno, CA: October 28, 2025

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