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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.3% more expensive than Lake Tahoe, CA without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.9% more expensive than Lake Tahoe, CA without rent, and 25.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.32 $20.32

$18.97 $18.97

7.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$76 $76

31.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.98 $10.98

9.47%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.22 $5.22

5.94%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.6 $2.6

18.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.95 $1.95

25.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.19 $7.19

$5.86 $5.86

22.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.93 $6.93

16.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.03 $1.03

3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.55 $3.55

12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.35 $4.35

23.22%

Eggs

$4.68 $4.68

$4.07 $4.07

14.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$12.08 $12.08

20.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.29 $15.29

$11.49 $11.49

33.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.88 $18.88

$15.67 $15.67

20.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$5.02 $5.02

5.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.64 $1.64

8.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.37 $4.37

-1.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.83 $4.83

-5.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.79 $2.79

-12.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.87 $2.87

-5.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.09 $2.09

18.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.2 $2.2

23.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.55 $9.55

59.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.02 $16.02

$14.14 $14.14

13.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.83 $1.83

28.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.42 $3.42

9.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.04 $2.04

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 $74.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.52 $3.52

-8.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.66 $1.66

-13.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.75 $24.75

$29.63 $29.63

-16.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.1 $1.1

$0.89 $0.89

23.60%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.9K $29.9K

8.23%

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

$26K $26K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.04%

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

$187 $187

$185 $185

1.09%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$51.9 $51.9

21.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$68 $68

-0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.4 $75.4

$42.33 $42.33

78.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.81 $14.81

$13.65 $13.65

8.50%

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

$2,074 $2,074

$1,321 $1,321

56.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K $39.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

67.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.6 $50.6

28.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$39.2 $39.2

29.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98 $98

$86.8 $86.8

12.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$111 $111

32.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,380 $2,380

$1,589 $1,589

49.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 $1,580

$1,345 $1,345

17.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,634 $2,634

77.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,198 $2,198

28.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,683 $3,683

$2,762 $2,762

33.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$2,412 $2,412

9.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,253 $5,253

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 24, 2025

Last update for Lake Tahoe, CA: November 23, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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