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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.3% cheaper than Pleasanton, CA without rent, and 26.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.7% more expensive than Pleasanton, CA without rent, and 15.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.63 $19.63
6.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81 $81
23.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.86 $10.86
10.22%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.06 $5.06
9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.65 $2.65
17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.78 $1.78
35.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.19 $7.19
-4.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.96 $7.96
6.16%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.43 $1.43
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.77 $4.77
-13.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$10.2 $10.2
-45.88%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.8 $4.8
-3.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.5 $11.5
24.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$19.47 $19.47
-23.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$23.44 $23.44
-17.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$8.59 $8.59
-39.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.54 $2.54
-32.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.9 $3.9
13.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$8.76 $8.76
-48.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.23 $4.23
-40.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.37 $4.37
-37.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.1 $3.1
-21.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.64 $2.64
2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.15 $12.15
25.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.7 $17.7
-7.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.06 $2.06
14.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$5.41 $5.41
-31.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$60 $60
23.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.97 $3.97
-15.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.92 $1.92
-26.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$50.5 $50.5
-49.61%
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
$25.5K $25.5K
27.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
3.01%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$166 $166
13.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.21 $48.21
32.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$94.3 $94.3
-30.84%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$72.2 $72.2
6.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$18.24 $18.24
-18.15%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,076 $2,076
-0.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$35.5K $35.5K
10.27%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.67 $39.67
62.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.32 $38.32
36.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$78.8 $78.8
20.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$111 $111
30.63%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,761 $2,761
-13.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,601 $2,601
-39.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,188 $4,188
13.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,930 $3,930
-28.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$9,419 $9,419
-61.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$8,717 $8,717
-71.43%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Pleasanton, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,757 $8,757
-39.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.48
1.85%

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 Pleasanton, CA: October 28, 2025

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