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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.3% more expensive than Oceanside, CA without rent, and 17.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.9% more expensive than Oceanside, CA without rent, and 4.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$25.47 $25.47
-18.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$78.6 $78.6
27.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.8 $12.8
-6.48%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.88 $5.88
-5.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.9 $2.9
7.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.33 $2.33
3.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.53 $8.53
-19.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.24 $8.24
2.55%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.23 $1.23
-15.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.7 $3.7
12.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6 $6
-8.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.65 $3.65
27.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.66 $12.66
13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.36 $10.36
43.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.7 $19.7
-1.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.08 $4.08
26.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.41 $1.41
21.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.64 $3.64
21.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.73 $4.73
-4.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.99 $2.99
-15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.41 $2.41
13.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.85 $1.85
31.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.15 $2.15
25.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.71 $11.71
29.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.82 $14.82
10.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.91 $1.91
23.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.24 $1.24
198.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.54 $2.54
-0.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$72.7 $72.7
1.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.17 $3.17
5.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$4.31 $4.31
-67.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.82 $28.82
-11.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.25 $1.25
-13.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32K $32K
1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$164 $164
14.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.75 $49.75
28.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.5 $71.5
-8.79%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.24 $40.24
90.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.05 $14.05
6.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,221 $1,221
68.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$19.7K $19.7K
99.20%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$49.02 $49.02
31.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.72 $46.72
12.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79.3 $79.3
20.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$140 $140
3.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,800 $2,800
-15.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,261 $2,261
-29.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,414 $4,414
7.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,435 $3,435
-18.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$6,181 $6,181
-41.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,113 $5,113
-51.30%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Oceanside, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,622 $4,622
14.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Oceanside, CA: October 29, 2025

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