Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Sacramento, CA: $3,037 and $3,000 a month, rent and utilities included.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
143

Cost of Living Index in Sacramento, CA
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Sacramento, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Sacramento, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,000

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,000 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Sacramento, CA $3,000

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,471 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Sacramento, CA $4,471

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,943 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Sacramento, CA $5,943

Chicago, IL and Sacramento, CA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chicago, IL and Sacramento, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Sacramento, CA by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$21.12 $21.12

-1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$99.6 $99.6

-10.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.26 $12.26

7.59%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.19 $5.19

9.06%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.91 $2.91

-9.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.94 $2.94

-22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.85 $7.85

-12.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.83 $7.83

12.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.31 $1.31

-4.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.16 $4.16

-10.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.59 $4.59

17.43%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.87 $5.87

-19.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$15.16 $15.16

-8.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.14 $15.14

-4.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.50 $18.50

-0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.98 $4.98

4.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.95 $1.95

1.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.41 $4.41

-7.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.67 $5.67

-12.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.67 $3.67

-27.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.31 $3.31

-19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.40 $2.40

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.61 $2.61

19.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.83 $11.83

16.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.21 $14.21

4.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.59 $2.59

-1.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.65 $3.65

-3.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.57 $2.57

-5.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$100.0 $100.0

-26.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.06 $4.06

-21.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.92 $1.92

-27.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$25.35 $25.35

-1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.62 $1.62

-25.93%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.5K $34.5K

1.47%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

0.09%

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

$194 $194

$231 $231

-15.77%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$61.0 $61.0

13.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$69.0 $69.0

-10.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$31.12 $31.12

53.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$40.69 $40.69

-32.81%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$17.25 $17.25

3.25%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,532 $1,532

17.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$19.0K $19.0K

68.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$60.5 $60.5

10.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$47.13 $47.13

10.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$93.1 $93.1

9.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$131 $131

9.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,986 $1,986

27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,491 $1,491

5.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,109 $3,109

52.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,505 $2,505

7.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$5,486 $5,486

-23.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,428 $3,428

-19.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,815 $4,815

2.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.59

3.34%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Sacramento, CA

$1.5K 49.7% 5.5% $87

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Sacramento, CA

$463 15.4% 3.5% $16

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Sacramento, CA

$346 11.5% 0.4% $1.4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Sacramento, CA

$361 12% 10.9% $35

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Sacramento, CA

$149 5% 9% $15

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Sacramento, CA

$124 4.1% 32.7% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Sacramento, CA

$66 2.2% 21.4% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,986 in Sacramento, 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 $100 in Sacramento, 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

🇺🇸 Sacramento, CA

🕒 Local time

10:28 10:28 AM

08:28 8:28 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

524,943

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Sacramento, CA 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,500 in Sacramento, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sacramento, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,986 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Sacramento, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 26% less in Chicago, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,000 in Sacramento, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,000 in Sacramento, CA to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.