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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.4% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 20.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 40% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.02 $20.02

4.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$40.51 $40.51

147.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.54 $11.54

3.73%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.66 $5.66

-1.77%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.97 $2.97

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$9.09 $9.09

-24.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$10.08 $10.08

-16.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.23 $1.23

-15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.7 $2.7

53.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.19 $3.19

73.04%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.04 $5.04

-7.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.06 $11.06

29.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.24 $15.24

-2.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.42 $17.42

11.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.68 $5.68

-8.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.53 $2.53

-32.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.47 $1.47

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.28 $4.28

5.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.07 $2.07

22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.26 $3.26

-15.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.02 $1.02

138.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.79 $2.79

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.18 $10.18

49.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.56 $18.56

-11.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.26 $2.26

3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.27 $3.27

13.15%

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

$59.3 $59.3

25.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.04 $3.04

9.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$26.68 $26.68

-4.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30K $30K

7.95%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.78%

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

$188 $188

$278 $278

-32.33%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$35.23 $35.23

80.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67 $67

-2.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$33.04 $33.04

132.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$13.83 $13.83

-5.78%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.63 $15.63

-4.48%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,959 $1,959

5.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

48.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.8 $53.8

19.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.27 $44.27

18.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$89.3 $89.3

6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$137 $137

5.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,593 $1,593

49.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,099 $1,099

44.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,963 $1,963

142.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,917 $1,917

46.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,947 $2,947

21.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,902 $2,902

-14.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,525 $3,525

49.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.36

3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

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