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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.9% more expensive than Modesto, CA without rent, and 13.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.7% more expensive than Modesto, CA without rent, and 13.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.75 $14.75

41.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.5 $81.5

23.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.98 $8.98

33.30%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.39 $5.39

3.15%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.64 $2.64

17.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.59 $1.59

52.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.12 $5.12

33.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.95 $6.95

21.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.08 $1.08

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.56 $3.56

16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.27 $3.27

68.81%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.98 $4.98

-6.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.03 $13.03

9.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.98 $14.98

-0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.92 $18.92

2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.19 $6.19

-16.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.51 $2.51

-31.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.02 $5.02

-12.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.71 $6.71

-32.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.47 $3.47

-27.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.31 $4.31

-36.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.09 $3.09

-21.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.87 $2.87

-5.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.94 $9.94

52.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.85 $14.85

10.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.84 $1.84

27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.43 $3.43

7.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$40.74 $40.74

81.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.44 $3.44

-2.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2 $2

-29.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.69 $29.69

-14.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.21 $1.21

-10.74%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27K $27K

20.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.56%

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

$188 $188

$299 $299

-36.97%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.27 $49.27

29.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.1 $64.1

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.16 $42.16

81.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$15.21 $15.21

-14.33%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.89 $10.89

37.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,952 $1,952

5.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

49.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$48.04 $48.04

33.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.95 $39.95

31.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.2 $86.2

10.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$128 $128

12.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,423 $1,423

67.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,297 $1,297

22.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,469 $2,469

92.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,390 $2,390

17.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,270 $3,270

9.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,927 $2,927

-14.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,080 $4,080

29.30%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Modesto, CA: October 29, 2025

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