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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,553 in Merced, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,750 in Merced, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,946 in Merced, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 22% more than Merced, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Merced, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Merced, CA by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$17.26 $17.26

15.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$40.45 $40.45

118.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.95 $11.95

10.71%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.77 $5.77

1.56%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.44 $2.44

6.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.46 $1.46

58.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$8.95 $8.95

-21.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$10.08 $10.08

-8.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.23 $1.23

8.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.46 $4.46

-6.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.20 $4.20

30.95%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.78 $5.78

-18.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$19.89 $19.89

-25.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$14.18 $14.18

2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$22.31 $22.31

-11.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.33 $4.33

30.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.95 $1.95

1.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.40 $5.40

-25.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.48 $5.48

-7.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.46 $3.46

-15.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.97 $2.97

-1.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.38 $2.38

-4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.48 $2.48

25.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.66 $11.66

38.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.37 $15.37

-1.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.45 $2.45

8.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.43 $3.43

1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.46 $1.46

73.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$60.3 $60.3

26.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.95 $2.95

7.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.66 $1.66

-17.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$26.93 $26.93

-15.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.32 $1.32

-9.09%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$36.5K $36.5K

1.52%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.4K $26.4K

-1.29%

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

$190 $190

$242 $242

-21.66%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$30.19 $30.19

126.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$82.6 $82.6

-26.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$32.86 $32.86

94.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$14.13 $14.13

96.74%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$17.23 $17.23

6.09%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,855 $1,855

-17.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$40.2K $40.2K

-20.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$60.4 $60.4

6.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$52.3 $52.3

3.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$98.6 $98.6

2.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$120 $120

28.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,633 $1,633

48.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,085 $1,085

55.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,962 $1,962

133.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,914 $1,914

45.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,884 $2,884

44.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,834 $2,834

-3.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,258 $3,258

46.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.17

3.40%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,633 in Merced, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $40.00 in Merced, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $482 in Merced, CA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Merced, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $2,553 in Merced, CA – roughly 22% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,829 in Merced, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $40.00 in Merced, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,553 in Merced, 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 $2,553 in Merced, CA to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Merced, 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.