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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.1% cheaper than Sacramento, CA without rent, and 10.7% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4.2% more expensive than Sacramento, CA without rent, and 1.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.74 $19.74

5.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$76.8 $76.8

30.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.41 $10.41

14.99%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.66 $5.66

-1.77%

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

$2.05 $2.05

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.15 $8.15

-15.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.2 $8.2

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.22 $1.22

-14.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.26 $4.26

-2.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.5 $5.5

0.36%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.57 $4.57

1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.63 $15.63

-8.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.09 $15.09

-1.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.84 $18.84

2.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.16 $5.16

0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.03 $2.03

-15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.18 $4.18

5.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.83 $6.83

-33.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.76 $3.76

-32.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.68 $4.68

-41.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.78 $2.78

-12.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.4 $2.4

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.54 $11.54

31.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.02 $17.02

-3.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.11 $2.11

11.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.94 $2.94

25.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.51 $2.51

0.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$101 $101

-26.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.05 $4.05

-17.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.91 $1.91

-25.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.46 $27.46

-7.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.24 $1.24

-12.90%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.3K $30.3K

6.86%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.3K $28.3K

-7.44%

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

$188 $188

$333 $333

-43.44%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.1 $59.1

7.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$74.1 $74.1

-12.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$44.28 $44.28

73.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$30.6 $30.6

-57.42%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.21 $14.21

5.07%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,725 $1,725

19.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

40.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$58.8 $58.8

9.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$64.7 $64.7

-19.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$93.1 $93.1

2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$128 $128

13.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,082 $2,082

14.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,692 $1,692

-6.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,525 $3,525

35.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,894 $2,894

-2.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,985 $4,985

-28.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,001 $4,001

-37.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,409 $4,409

19.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 29, 2025

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