Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Garden Grove, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Garden Grove, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.7% more expensive than Garden Grove, CA without rent, and 16.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.7% more expensive than Garden Grove, CA without rent, and 24% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.94 $19.94
4.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$86.3 $86.3
16.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.15 $10.15
17.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.02 $5.02
10.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.65 $2.65
17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.02 $2.02
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.86 $6.86
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.15 $7.15
18.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.06 $1.06
-1.89%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.1 $4.1
1.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.61 $4.61
19.74%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.41 $4.41
5.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.84 $10.84
32.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.93 $8.93
66.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.28 $14.28
35.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.41 $3.41
51.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.91 $1.91
-10.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.83 $3.83
15.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.53 $5.53
-18.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.16 $3.16
-19.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.97 $2.97
-7.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.39 $1.39
74.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.01 $2.01
34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.57 $9.57
58.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$8.83 $8.83
85.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.74 $4.74
-21.94%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$68.1 $68.1
8.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.04 $4.04
-17.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.78 $2.78
-48.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$31.67 $31.67
-19.73%
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
$24.4K $24.4K
33.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
7.78%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$204 $204
-7.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.16 $47.16
35.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.6 $72.6
-10.22%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.46 $43.46
76.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.17 $14.17
5.36%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,227 $1,227
68.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$40.5K $40.5K
-3.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56.3 $56.3
14.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$35.24 $35.24
48.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$77.8 $77.8
22.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$86.5 $86.5
67.33%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,586 $1,586
49.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,351 $1,351
17.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,617 $2,617
82.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,204 $2,204
27.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,026 $3,026
18.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,302 $2,302
8.18%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Garden Grove, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,941 $4,941
6.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.58
0.30%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Garden Grove, CA: October 28, 2025

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