Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Mission Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Mission Viejo, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12% more expensive than Mission Viejo, CA without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 45.1% more expensive than Mission Viejo, CA without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$18.95 $18.95
6.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$58.7 $58.7
73.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$11.18 $11.18
7.51%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.03 $5.03
11.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.60 $2.60
15.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.95 $1.95
20.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$6.16 $6.16
13.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.80 $6.80
24.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.03 $1.03
5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.40 $3.40
21.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.26 $4.26
30.75%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$4.18 $4.18
7.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$12.39 $12.39
16.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.32 $11.32
32.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$15.19 $15.19
24.95%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.86 $4.86
7.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.58 $1.58
12.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.27 $4.27
1.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.82 $4.82
-6.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.76 $2.76
-7.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.81 $2.81
-3.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.02 $2.02
23.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.21 $2.21
19.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$9.31 $9.31
62.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$14.89 $14.89
0.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.84 $1.84
34.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.28 $3.28
11.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.96 $1.96
31.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.55 $3.55
-7.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.65 $1.65
-16.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.51 $29.51
-15.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.43 $1.43
-25.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$29.6K $29.6K
6.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$189 $189
-1.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$52.2 $52.2
20.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$68.1 $68.1
-3.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$43.49 $43.49
72.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$13.27 $13.27
14.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,302 $1,302
58.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$23.6K $23.6K
63.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$51.8 $51.8
23.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$40.65 $40.65
25.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$87.8 $87.8
10.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$111 $111
29.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$2,627 $2,627
-11.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,364 $1,364
18.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,658 $2,658
79.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,935 $2,935
-5.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,691 $2,691
39.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,339 $2,339
11.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Mission Viejo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$5,624 $5,624
-10.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Mission Viejo, CA: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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