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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26% more expensive than Monterey, CA without rent, and 8.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.5% more expensive than Monterey, CA without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.22 $16.22

28.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.9 $64.9

54.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.45 $9.45

26.67%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.48 $4.48

24.11%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.16 $3.16

-1.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.63 $1.63

48.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.86 $5.86

17.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.44 $4.44

90.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.34 $1.34

-22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.41 $3.41

21.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.37 $4.37

26.32%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4 $4

16.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.38 $9.38

52.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.66 $17.66

-15.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.04 $14.04

37.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.85 $3.85

34.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.15 $1.15

48.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.46 $2.46

79.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.23 $2.23

102.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.92 $1.92

31.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.23 $2.23

22.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.83 $1.83

32.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.94 $1.94

39.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.16 $12.16

24.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.28 $17.28

-4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.2 $2.2

6.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.44 $2.44

51.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$53 $53

39.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.58 $1.58

111.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.89 $0.89

59.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.75 $28.75

-11.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.22 $1.22

-11.48%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

33.90%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.36%

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

$188 $188

0.31%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$51.7 $51.7

23.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.8 $61.8

5.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.27 $43.27

77.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$10.52 $10.52

23.86%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.3 $12.3

21.38%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$570 $570

261.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$12.5K $12.5K

212.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$68.4 $68.4

-6.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$119 $119

-55.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.5 $98.5

-3.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$202 $202

-28.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,323 $2,323

2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,004 $2,004

-20.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,623 $3,623

31.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,664 $3,664

-23.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,809 $7,809

-54.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,920 $5,920

-57.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,380 $4,380

20.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.4

3.12%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

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