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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.5% cheaper than Pasadena, CA without rent, and 27.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.3% more expensive than Pasadena, CA without rent, and 19% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.96 $17.96

15.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.3 $81.3

23.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.4 $11.4

5.00%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.16 $5.16

7.75%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.08 $3.08

0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.9 $2.9

-16.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$9.89 $9.89

-30.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$10.89 $10.89

-22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.27 $1.27

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.9 $4.9

-15.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.95 $2.95

87.12%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.47 $5.47

-14.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.71 $15.71

-8.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$18.68 $18.68

-20.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.27 $13.27

45.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.54 $3.54

46.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.7 $1.7

0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.37 $2.37

86.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.9 $5.9

-23.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.41 $5.41

-53.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.41 $2.41

13.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.86 $1.86

30.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.71 $1.71

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.41 $9.41

61.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.09 $15.09

8.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.67 $1.67

121.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.59 $1.59

59.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$51.6 $51.6

43.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.49 $3.49

-4.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.48 $29.48

-13.77%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

9.35%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.2K $22.2K

18.28%

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

$188 $188

$259 $259

-27.41%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.1 $50.1

27.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.9 $71.9

-9.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$34.34 $34.34

123.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$35.31 $35.31

-63.10%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$18.8 $18.8

-20.59%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$3,892 $3,892

-47.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$15.1K $15.1K

159.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$91.8 $91.8

-29.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.28 $40.28

30.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$92.3 $92.3

3.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$221 $221

-34.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,377 $3,377

-29.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,719 $2,719

-41.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$5,360 $5,360

-11.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,324 $4,324

-34.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$9,222 $9,222

-61.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$8,586 $8,586

-71.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,622 $5,622

-6.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.27

5.26%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Pasadena, CA: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States