Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grass Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grass Valley, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.2% more expensive than Grass Valley, CA without rent, and 0.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 0.4% cheaper than Grass Valley, CA without rent, and 33.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.39 $20.39
2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$89.4 $89.4
12.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$7.8 $7.8
53.46%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.74 $4.74
17.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.51 $2.51
23.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.49 $1.49
62.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.21 $8.21
-16.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.77 $7.77
8.75%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.39 $1.39
-25.18%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.06 $5.06
-17.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.25 $2.25
145.33%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.69 $6.69
-30.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$20.38 $20.38
-29.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.96 $14.96
-0.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.76 $16.76
15.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.53 $4.53
14.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.27 $2.27
-24.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.25 $2.25
96.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.3 $6.3
-28.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.17 $2.17
16.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.32 $3.32
-17.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.95 $2.95
-8.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.05 $10.05
51.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.02 $16.02
2.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.07 $4.07
-9.09%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.53 $3.53
-5.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.06 $2.06
-31.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$40.38 $40.38
-37.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.3 $1.3
-16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.6K $23.6K
37.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.12%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$276 $276
-31.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.6 $53.6
18.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.1 $61.1
6.78%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$50.4 $50.4
52.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.2 $13.2
13.11%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,714 $2,714
-24.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$38.5K $38.5K
1.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$35.7 $35.7
80.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.7 $34.7
50.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$90.3 $90.3
5.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$127 $127
14.03%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,779 $1,779
33.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,588 $1,588
-0.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,350 $2,350
102.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,569 $1,569
79.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,645 $3,645
-1.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,003 $3,003
-17.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Grass Valley, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,970 $2,970
77.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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 Grass Valley, CA: October 29, 2025

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