Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Los Gatos, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Los Gatos, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.7% more expensive than Los Gatos, CA without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.1% more expensive than Los Gatos, CA without rent, and 13% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$30.05 $30.05
-30.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$109 $109
-7.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.12 $14.12
-15.23%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.85 $4.85
14.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.04 $3.04
2.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.15 $2.15
12.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.74 $8.74
-21.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.14 $8.14
3.81%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.43 $1.43
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.03 $5.03
-17.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.15 $3.15
75.24%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.35 $5.35
-13.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.26 $13.26
8.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.64 $14.64
1.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.05 $17.05
13.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.75 $7.75
-33.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.24 $2.24
-23.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.49 $4.49
-1.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.09 $5.09
-11.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.97 $2.97
-14.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.31 $3.31
-17.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.2 $2.2
10.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.7 $2.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.47 $10.47
45.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$30.46 $30.46
-46.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.1 $4.1
-9.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.58 $3.58
-6.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.9 $1.9
-25.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.04 $30.04
-15.38%
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
$24.3K $24.3K
33.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$220 $220
-14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$38.49 $38.49
65.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.3 $62.3
4.62%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.2 $42.2
81.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.75 $14.75
1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,172 $1,172
75.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.4K $24.4K
60.51%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.6 $55.6
15.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.26 $39.26
33.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$93.4 $93.4
1.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$79.7 $79.7
81.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,586 $1,586
49.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,353 $1,353
17.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,631 $2,631
81.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,187 $2,187
28.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,450 $3,450
4.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,662 $2,662
-6.46%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Los Gatos, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,920 $6,920
-23.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: October 28, 2025

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