Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Menlo Park, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Menlo Park, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.2% cheaper than Menlo Park, CA without rent, and 17.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.7% more expensive than Menlo Park, CA without rent, and 36.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$30.12 $30.12

-30.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$89.6 $89.6

12.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.06 $12.06

-0.75%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.75 $4.75

17.05%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.66 $2.66

16.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.37 $1.37

76.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.11 $8.11

-15.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.95 $7.95

6.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.42 $1.42

-26.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.81 $4.81

-13.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.16 $3.16

74.68%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.82 $6.82

-31.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.96 $10.96

30.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.24 $11.24

32.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.68 $12.68

52.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.75 $4.75

8.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.15 $2.15

-20.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.28 $4.28

3.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.8 $4.8

-6.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.93 $2.93

-13.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.49 $3.49

-21.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.2 $2.2

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.75 $2.75

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.67 $8.67

75.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.93 $11.93

37.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.36 $2.36

56.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.42 $4.42

-42.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.43 $3.43

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.95 $1.95

-27.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.94 $29.94

-15.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.29 $1.29

-16.28%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

35.87%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.32%

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

$188 $188

$245 $245

-23.11%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$39.63 $39.63

60.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.5 $72.5

-10.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.14 $43.14

77.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.23 $15.23

-1.97%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,655 $2,655

-22.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$37.2K $37.2K

5.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.3 $55.3

16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.43 $40.43

29.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$90 $90

5.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$79.7 $79.7

81.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,224 $3,224

-26.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,226 $2,226

-28.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$6,146 $6,146

-22.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$6,628 $6,628

-57.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$21.9K $21.9K

-83.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$16.4K $16.4K

-84.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,947 $4,947

6.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Menlo Park, CA: October 29, 2025

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