Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Elsinore, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Elsinore, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17% more expensive than Lake Elsinore, CA without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.6% more expensive than Lake Elsinore, CA without rent, and 12.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.73 $24.73

-15.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$101 $101

-0.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.23 $14.23

-15.88%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.65 $5.65

-1.59%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.9 $2.9

7.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.24 $2.24

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.26 $8.26

-16.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.84 $9.84

-14.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.2 $1.2

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.4 $3.4

22.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.03 $6.03

-8.46%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$7.31 $7.31

-36.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.75 $12.75

12.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.78 $16.78

-11.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.32 $19.32

0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.86 $5.86

-11.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.16 $2.16

-20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.19 $4.19

5.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.74 $4.74

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.22 $2.22

13.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.89 $1.89

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.24 $2.24

20.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.81 $7.81

94.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.91 $14.91

10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.61 $2.61

-9.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.26 $3.26

13.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.17 $3.17

5.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.08 $2.08

-31.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.96 $28.96

-12.22%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

3.04%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.30%

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

$188 $188

$182 $182

3.62%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$66.7 $66.7

-4.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$29.28 $29.28

122.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.48 $42.48

80.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$18.08 $18.08

-17.42%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,795 $1,795

14.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

67.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$60.8 $60.8

5.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$46.57 $46.57

12.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$147 $147

-1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,592 $1,592

49.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,378 $1,378

14.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,635 $2,635

80.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,192 $2,192

28.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,749 $2,749

30.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,420 $2,420

2.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lake Elsinore, CA: October 29, 2025

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