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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.4% more expensive than Highland, CA without rent, and 18.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 36.6% more expensive than Highland, CA without rent, and 29.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.02 $18.02

15.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.7 $80.7

24.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.02 $12.02

-0.42%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.1 $5.1

9.02%

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

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.2 $7.2

-4.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.92 $6.92

22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.11 $1.11

-6.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.12 $4.12

0.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.2 $4.2

31.43%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.88 $3.88

19.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.77 $10.77

33.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.57 $8.57

73.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.37 $14.37

34.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.46 $3.46

49.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.73 $1.73

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.1 $4.1

7.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.43 $5.43

-16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.31 $3.31

-23.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.88 $2.88

-4.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.43 $1.43

69.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.92 $10.92

39.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.23 $9.23

77.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.57 $3.57

3.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$29.72 $29.72

149.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.46 $6.46

-48.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.76 $28.76

-11.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.24 $1.24

-12.90%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

35.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.22%

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

$188 $188

$156 $156

20.49%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.33 $47.33

34.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.2 $59.2

10.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.74 $43.74

75.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.75 $13.75

8.58%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,227 $1,227

68.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

67.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.67 $46.67

37.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.5 $33.5

56.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.8 $84.8

12.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$84.3 $84.3

71.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,590 $1,590

49.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,351 $1,351

17.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,593 $2,593

83.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,223 $2,223

26.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,180 $3,180

12.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,217 $2,217

12.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

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 Highland, CA: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States