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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,717 in Modesto, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,143 in Modesto, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,569 in Modesto, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Modesto, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Modesto, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Modesto, CA by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$15.23 $15.23

32.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$81.2 $81.2

22.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$8.80 $8.80

38.98%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.44 $5.44

2.94%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.69 $2.69

15.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.60 $1.60

51.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.93 $4.93

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.85 $6.85

19.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.54 $3.54

12.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.30 $3.30

69.09%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.94 $4.94

-9.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.11 $13.11

10.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.98 $14.98

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.67 $19.67

-1.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.27 $6.27

-14.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.52 $2.52

-30.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.99 $4.99

-13.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.60 $6.60

-33.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.43 $3.43

-25.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$4.51 $4.51

-40.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.00 $3.00

-17.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.83 $2.83

-8.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.05 $10.05

47.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.85 $14.85

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.84 $1.84

34.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.44 $3.44

4.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.04 $2.04

24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$39.25 $39.25

94.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.48 $3.48

-5.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.99 $1.99

-30.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$30.18 $30.18

-15.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.21 $1.21

-9.92%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$27.4K $27.4K

15.56%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.4K $26.4K

0.48%

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

$186 $186

$292 $292

-36.36%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$48.30 $48.30

30.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$63.3 $63.3

4.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$41.81 $41.81

85.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.89 $14.89

-11.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$10.96 $10.96

34.49%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,983 $1,983

2.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

55.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$49.27 $49.27

29.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.13 $39.13

30.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.7 $86.7

9.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$129 $129

11.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,424 $1,424

61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,271 $1,271

23.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,455 $2,455

90.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,447 $2,447

11.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$3,279 $3,279

23.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$3,172 $3,172

-15.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,119 $4,119

21.86%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Modesto, CA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,424 in Modesto, 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 22% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Modesto, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $463 in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,717 in Modesto, CA – roughly 13% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,075 in Modesto, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Modesto, 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 3% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Modesto, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Modesto, CA, where all-in costs run around $2,717, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Modesto, CA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,717 in Modesto, CA to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Modesto, 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.