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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.6% more expensive than Martinez, CA without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.2% more expensive than Martinez, CA without rent, and 25.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.06 $19.06
9.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$73.6 $73.6
36.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.17 $11.17
7.16%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.11 $5.11
8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.48 $2.48
25.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.96 $1.96
23.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.94 $5.94
15.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.04 $7.04
20.03%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.07 $1.07
-2.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.87 $4.87
-14.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.27 $4.27
29.27%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.1 $4.1
13.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$21.74 $21.74
-34.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.68 $10.68
39.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.39 $15.39
25.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.85 $4.85
6.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.81 $1.81
-5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.3 $4.3
2.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.36 $5.36
-15.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.88 $2.88
-12.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.12 $2.12
27.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.84 $9.84
54.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.64 $12.64
29.91%
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
$3.38 $3.38
9.47%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.45 $3.45
-3.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.63 $28.63
-11.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.7K $29.7K
9.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$190 $190
-0.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.1 $52.1
22.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.1 $67.1
-2.86%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.66 $43.66
75.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.26 $13.26
12.59%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,301 $1,301
58.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
63.85%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.7 $50.7
26.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.06 $40.06
30.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.1 $86.1
10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
26.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,028 $2,028
17.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,371 $1,371
15.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,698 $3,698
28.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,178 $2,178
29.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$5,806 $5,806
-38.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,743 $2,743
-9.23%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Martinez, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,812 $5,812
-9.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Martinez, CA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.