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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,764 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,116 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,467 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 9% more than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Los Gatos, CA by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$30.56 $30.56

-33.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$111 $111

-8.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$14.26 $14.26

-15.99%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$4.85 $4.85

17.53%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$3.08 $3.08

-2.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.24 $2.24

9.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$9.02 $9.02

-23.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.95 $7.95

1.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.43 $1.43

-27.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$5.11 $5.11

-22.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.21 $3.21

68.85%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$5.50 $5.50

-18.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$13.22 $13.22

9.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$14.74 $14.74

1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$17.09 $17.09

11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.66 $7.66

-29.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.24 $2.24

-20.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.40 $4.40

-1.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.07 $5.07

-10.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.87 $2.87

-11.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.47 $3.47

-19.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.17 $2.17

15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.68 $2.68

-0.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.48 $10.48

41.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.97 $14.97

1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.72 $1.72

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.92 $3.92

-9.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.04 $2.04

25.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.45 $3.45

-7.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.88 $1.88

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$30.57 $30.57

-16.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.29 $1.29

-19.38%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

32.31%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.02%

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

$184 $184

$222 $222

-17.13%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$39.02 $39.02

61.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$62.5 $62.5

6.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$43.21 $43.21

75.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.22 $14.22

7.24%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,136 $1,136

83.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

62.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$57.0 $57.0

12.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$40.65 $40.65

25.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$94.3 $94.3

3.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$79.4 $79.4

87.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,623 $1,623

44.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,360 $1,360

15.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,661 $2,661

78.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,251 $2,251

25.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$3,542 $3,542

10.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,623 in Los Gatos, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $111 in Los Gatos, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $462 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,764 in Los Gatos, CA – roughly 9% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,147 in Los Gatos, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Gatos, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $111 in Los Gatos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,764 in Los Gatos, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,764 in Los Gatos, CA to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Los Gatos, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.