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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.7% more expensive than Fullerton, CA without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 0.8% cheaper than Fullerton, CA without rent, and 13.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.6 $24.6

-15.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$84.1 $84.1

19.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.65 $11.65

2.75%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.65 $5.65

-1.59%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.72 $2.72

14.34%

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

$7.28 $7.28

-5.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.32 $8.32

1.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.2 $1.2

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.97 $3.97

4.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.23 $4.23

30.50%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.63 $4.63

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.17 $11.17

28.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.54 $8.54

74.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.47 $14.47

33.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.49 $3.49

48.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.84 $1.84

-7.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.79 $3.79

16.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.5 $5.5

-18.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.2 $3.2

-20.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.17 $3.17

-13.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.5 $1.5

62.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.11 $11.11

36.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$8.76 $8.76

87.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.54 $4.54

-18.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.3 $2.3

10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$63.4 $63.4

16.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.03 $4.03

-17.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$32.02 $32.02

-20.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 $1.25

-13.60%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.8K $23.8K

36.13%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.39%

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

$188 $188

$203 $203

-7.43%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.71 $49.71

28.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$65.6 $65.6

-0.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$39.44 $39.44

94.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.07 $14.07

6.11%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,388 $1,388

48.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$40.3K $40.3K

-2.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$69.8 $69.8

-7.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.25 $35.25

48.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.9 $84.9

12.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$121 $121

19.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,552 $2,552

-6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,022 $2,022

-21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,818 $3,818

24.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,106 $4,106

-31.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$5,383 $5,383

-33.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,752 $2,752

-9.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,826 $4,826

9.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fullerton, CA: October 28, 2025

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