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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.4% more expensive than Lancaster, CA without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 38.1% more expensive than Lancaster, CA without rent, and 17.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.31 $18.31

13.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.2 $81.2

23.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$18.97 $18.97

-36.90%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.73 $5.73

-2.97%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.22 $2.22

40.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.55 $2.55

-5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.52 $6.52

5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.83 $7.83

7.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.42 $1.42

-26.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.58 $5.58

-25.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.17 $2.17

154.38%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.66 $2.66

74.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.99 $9.99

43.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.31 $13.31

11.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$9.48 $9.48

104.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.69 $3.69

40.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.39 $1.39

23.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.24 $2.24

96.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$0.98 $0.98

360.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.98 $0.98

158.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.56 $1.56

75.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.67 $2.67

-8.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.02 $3.02

-10.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.12 $11.12

36.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$10.98 $10.98

49.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.96 $1.96

88.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.52 $1.52

66.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$50.6 $50.6

46.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.56 $3.56

-6.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.6 $1.6

-11.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.87 $28.87

-11.95%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

7.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.34%

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

$188 $188

$227 $227

-17.27%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$42.94 $42.94

48.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$89.1 $89.1

-26.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$40.77 $40.77

88.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$7.11 $7.11

83.26%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.83 $14.83

0.67%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,286 $1,286

60.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

65.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$52.1 $52.1

23.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$50.4 $50.4

3.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$76.1 $76.1

25.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$85.9 $85.9

68.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,320 $2,320

2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,478 $1,478

7.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,486 $2,486

91.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,543 $2,543

10.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,205 $3,205

11.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,762 $2,762

-9.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,086 $4,086

29.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lancaster, CA: October 29, 2025

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