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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.2% more expensive than Irvine, CA without rent, and 19.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.4% more expensive than Irvine, CA without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.63 $24.63

-15.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$98.2 $98.2

2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.18 $10.18

17.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

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

$2.03 $2.03

19.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.06 $8.06

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.84 $8.84

-4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.21 $1.21

-14.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.73 $5.73

-27.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.82 $4.82

14.52%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.63 $4.63

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.53 $12.53

14.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.37 $11.37

30.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.3 $14.3

35.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.24 $6.24

-17.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.83 $1.83

-6.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.85 $3.85

14.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.59 $5.59

-19.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.25 $3.25

-22.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.08 $2.08

16.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.49 $9.49

60.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.96 $14.96

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.75 $4.75

-22.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$70.3 $70.3

5.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.97 $3.97

-15.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.76 $2.76

-48.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$32.09 $32.09

-20.79%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

14.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.20%

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

$188 $188

$205 $205

-8.11%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54 $54

17.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.7 $72.7

-10.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$55 $55

39.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$13.38 $13.38

-2.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.78 $13.78

8.35%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,868 $1,868

10.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$40.1K $40.1K

-2.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$69.6 $69.6

-7.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.54 $40.54

29.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$76.8 $76.8

23.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$155 $155

-6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,716 $2,716

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,333 $2,333

-32.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,616 $4,616

3.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,818 $3,818

-26.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$8,450 $8,450

-57.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$8,108 $8,108

-69.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,963 $5,963

-11.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.69

-1.35%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Irvine, CA: October 27, 2025

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