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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.9% more expensive than Salinas, CA without rent, and 20.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.2% more expensive than Salinas, CA without rent, and 13.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$29.69 $29.69

-29.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$89.1 $89.1

12.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.04 $12.04

-0.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.9 $4.9

13.47%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.66 $2.66

16.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.14 $2.14

13.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.86 $7.86

-12.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.84 $7.84

7.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.46 $1.46

-28.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.55 $3.55

16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.36 $6.36

-13.21%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.55 $5.55

-16.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$21 $21

-31.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.16 $13.16

13.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.74 $16.74

15.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6 $6

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.16 $2.16

-20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.57 $3.57

23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.06 $6.06

-25.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.47 $4.47

-43.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.39 $3.39

-19.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.17 $2.17

11.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.87 $1.87

44.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.09 $11.09

36.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$10.18 $10.18

61.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.34 $5.34

-30.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$68.8 $68.8

7.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.45 $3.45

-3.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.88 $1.88

-24.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$40.24 $40.24

-36.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.31 $1.31

-17.56%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

34.15%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.28%

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

$188 $188

$277 $277

-32.15%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.1 $53.1

19.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.6 $72.6

-10.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$39.6 $39.6

93.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.31 $14.31

4.33%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,968 $1,968

4.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$38.3K $38.3K

2.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.1 $56.1

14.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$37.8 $37.8

38.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$92.3 $92.3

3.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$126 $126

14.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,200 $2,200

8.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,164 $2,164

-26.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,186 $4,186

13.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,806 $3,806

-26.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,778 $2,778

29.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,415 $2,415

3.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,905 $4,905

7.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.41

2.96%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 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