Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and San Bernardino, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6% more expensive than San Bernardino, CA without rent, and 2.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4.9% more expensive than San Bernardino, CA without rent, and 6.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.98 $19.98

4.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79 $79

27.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.98 $14.98

-20.09%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.33 $5.33

4.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.51 $3.51

-11.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.98 $1.98

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.83 $6.83

0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.05 $8.05

4.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.06 $1.06

-1.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.09 $4.09

1.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.04 $4.04

36.63%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.06 $6.06

-23.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.68 $10.68

34.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.08 $13.08

13.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.72 $14.72

31.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.4 $3.4

52.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.66 $1.66

3.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.13 $4.13

6.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.49 $5.49

-17.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.19 $3.19

-20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.91 $2.91

-5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.44 $1.44

68.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.18 $11.18

35.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$8.94 $8.94

83.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.7 $5.7

-35.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$58.1 $58.1

27.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.06 $5.06

-33.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$4.22 $4.22

-66.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.48 $29.48

-13.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 $1.25

-13.60%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

27.58%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.57%

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

$188 $188

$253 $253

-25.49%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.6 $54.6

16.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.6 $59.6

9.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$39.74 $39.74

93.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.96 $13.96

6.95%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,154 $1,154

78.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$9,969 $9,969

293.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.2 $55.2

16.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.74 $34.74

50.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$104 $104

38.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,918 $1,918

23.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,683 $1,683

-5.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,532 $2,532

88.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,735 $2,735

2.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,625 $3,625

-1.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,574 $3,574

-30.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,802 $3,802

38.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Bernardino, CA: October 29, 2025

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