Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rohnert Park, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Rohnert Park, CA: $2,756 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Rohnert Park, CA
Learn more

Rohnert Park, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Rohnert Park, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,756

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Rohnert Park, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Rohnert Park, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,756 in Rohnert Park, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Rohnert Park, CA $2,756

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,915 in Rohnert Park, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Rohnert Park, CA $3,915

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,074 in Rohnert Park, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Rohnert Park, CA $5,074

Chicago, IL costs about 10% more than Rohnert Park, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Chicago, IL and Rohnert Park, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Rohnert Park, CA by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.06 $25.06

-17.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$108 $108

-17.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$13.18 $13.18

0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.64 $5.64

0.35%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.03 $3.03

-12.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.82 $2.82

-19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.91 $7.91

-13.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.84 $9.84

-10.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.51 $1.51

-17.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.38 $5.38

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.08 $6.08

-11.35%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$8.06 $8.06

-41.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$15.41 $15.41

-10.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.19 $13.19

9.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.66 $15.66

17.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.83 $4.83

8.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.50 $1.50

32.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.90 $4.90

-17.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.59 $4.59

8.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.12 $3.12

-14.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.96 $2.96

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.84 $1.84

21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.98 $1.98

58.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.65 $11.65

18.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$20.36 $20.36

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.70 $1.70

49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.59 $3.59

-2.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.18 $2.18

11.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$58.1 $58.1

26.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$6.86 $6.86

-53.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.61 $1.61

-13.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$25.72 $25.72

-2.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.54 $1.54

-22.08%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

28.10%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-1.25%

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

$194 $194

$151 $151

29.02%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$29.94 $29.94

131.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$50.3 $50.3

22.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$41.21 $41.21

16.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$15.84 $15.84

12.44%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,269 $1,269

41.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$42.0K $42.0K

-23.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$68.3 $68.3

-1.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$25.14 $25.14

107.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$78.7 $78.7

28.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$99.0 $99.0

45.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,557 $1,557

62.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,395 $1,395

13.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,510 $2,510

88.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,835 $1,835

46.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,777 $2,777

50.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,125 $2,125

30.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.82

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Rohnert Park, CA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Rohnert Park, CA

$1.4K 50.6% 11.6% $183

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Rohnert Park, CA

$463 16.8% 3.5% $16

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Rohnert Park, CA

$390 14.2% 13.2% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Rohnert Park, CA

$231 8.4% 29% $95

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Rohnert Park, CA

$122 4.4% 25.6% $42

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Rohnert Park, CA

$82 3% 12.5% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Rohnert Park, CA

$73 2.6% 12.7% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,557 in Rohnert Park, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $108 in Rohnert Park, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $463 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Rohnert Park, CA

🕒 Local time

13:05 1:05 PM

11:05 11:05 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

41,083

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Rohnert Park, CA 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Rohnert Park, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Rohnert Park, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,756 in Rohnert Park, CA – roughly 10% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,134 in Rohnert Park, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rohnert Park, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,557 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $108 in Rohnert Park, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,756 in Rohnert Park, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Rohnert Park, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.