Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palo Alto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palo Alto, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.5% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 38.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.6% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 35.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.92 $24.92

-16.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$111 $111

-9.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.34 $11.34

5.56%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.74 $5.74

-3.14%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.24 $3.24

-4.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.54 $2.54

-4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.14 $8.14

-15.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$10.03 $10.03

-15.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.47 $1.47

-29.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.99 $4.99

-16.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.19 $3.19

73.04%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.16 $6.16

-24.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$21.55 $21.55

-33.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.78 $14.78

0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.82 $22.82

-15.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.95 $6.95

-25.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.56 $2.56

-33.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.84 $4.84

-8.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.75 $6.75

-33.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.89 $3.89

-34.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.37 $4.37

-37.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.9 $2.9

-16.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.86 $2.86

-5.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.11 $11.11

36.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.33 $18.33

-10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.27 $2.27

3.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.35 $3.35

10.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.55 $2.55

-0.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$89.6 $89.6

-17.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.11 $4.11

-18.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.89 $1.89

-24.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$30.51 $30.51

-16.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.27 $1.27

-14.96%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.26%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.39%

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

$188 $188

$225 $225

-16.23%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.97 $47.97

32.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.6 $68.6

-4.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$120 $120

-36.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$19.88 $19.88

-34.46%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.78 $15.78

-5.39%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,710 $2,710

-23.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$45.7K $45.7K

-14.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.2 $53.2

20.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.76 $44.76

17.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$89.3 $89.3

6.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$135 $135

6.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,473 $3,473

-31.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$3,227 $3,227

-50.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$5,889 $5,889

-19.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$5,757 $5,757

-51.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,539 $2,539

41.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,123 $2,123

17.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$10K $10K

-47.28%

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 Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

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