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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7% more expensive than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.3% more expensive than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 1.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.57 $24.57

-15.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

0.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.11 $10.11

18.40%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.91 $5.91

-5.92%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.72 $2.72

14.34%

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

$8.48 $8.48

-19.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.84 $8.84

-4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.24 $1.24

-16.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.27 $4.27

-2.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.61 $4.61

19.74%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.47 $4.47

4.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.47 $12.47

14.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.03 $17.03

-12.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.22 $19.22

0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.56 $6.56

-21.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.9 $1.9

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.14 $4.14

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.42 $5.42

-16.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.21 $3.21

-21.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.08 $3.08

-11.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.91 $1.91

27.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.75 $9.75

55.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$19.65 $19.65

-16.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.9 $3.9

-5.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.42 $3.42

-26.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.04 $3.04

9.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.68 $2.68

-47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.53 $29.53

-13.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.29 $1.29

-16.28%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.5K $28.5K

13.85%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.10%

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

$188 $188

$202 $202

-7.05%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.8 $54.8

16.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.9 $71.9

-9.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$51 $51

50.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$17.17 $17.17

-13.05%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,823 $1,823

13.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.1K $24.1K

62.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$62.2 $62.2

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.13 $41.13

27.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$150 $150

-3.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,433 $1,433

65.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,501 $1,501

5.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,096 $3,096

53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,805 $2,805

0.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$8,100 $8,100

-55.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$7,128 $7,128

-65.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,899 $6,899

-23.54%

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 Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

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