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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.9% more expensive than Ojai, CA without rent, and 13.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 35% more expensive than Ojai, CA without rent, and 25.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.85 $24.85
-16.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$50.9 $50.9
97.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.14 $10.14
18.05%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.41 $5.41
2.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.45 $2.45
26.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.7 $1.7
42.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.24 $8.24
-16.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.94 $8.94
-5.48%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.2 $1.2
-13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.85 $3.85
7.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.84 $4.84
14.05%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.46 $4.46
4.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.53 $12.53
14.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$5.22 $5.22
185.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.88 $10.88
77.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.64 $5.64
-8.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.9 $1.9
-10.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.96 $3.96
11.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.6 $5.6
-19.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.32 $1.32
91.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.73 $2.73
0.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.02 $2.02
20.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.08 $2.08
29.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.4 $9.4
61.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.97 $14.97
9.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.7 $1.7
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.67 $4.67
-20.77%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.92 $3.92
-14.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2 $2
-29.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$31.57 $31.57
-19.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.28 $1.28
-15.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.7K $28.7K
12.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.5K $26.5K
-1.10%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$199 $199
-5.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.6 $54.6
16.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.5 $72.5
-10.09%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.44 $43.44
76.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.72 $13.72
8.82%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,848 $1,848
11.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$39.5K $39.5K
-0.74%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56.9 $56.9
12.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.86 $40.86
28.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$75 $75
26.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$154 $154
-6.21%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,490 $2,490
-4.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,231 $2,231
-28.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,669 $2,669
78.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,264 $2,264
24.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,779 $2,779
29.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,525 $2,525
-1.37%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Ojai, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.69
-1.35%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ojai, CA: October 28, 2025

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