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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.8% more expensive than San Clemente, CA without rent, and 10.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.4% more expensive than San Clemente, CA without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.95 $22.95
-9.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$101 $101
-1.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$15.2 $15.2
-21.25%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.95 $4.95
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.08 $3.08
0.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.55 $2.55
-5.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.95 $6.95
-1.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.17 $8.17
3.43%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.12 $1.12
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.29 $4.29
-3.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.48 $4.48
23.21%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.9 $3.9
19.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.46 $13.46
6.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.84 $12.84
15.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.64 $18.64
3.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.8 $4.8
7.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 $1.71
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.1 $4.1
7.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.82 $4.82
-6.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.1 $3.1
-18.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.48 $2.48
10.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.25 $2.25
8.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.36 $2.36
14.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.34 $7.34
106.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.89 $14.89
10.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.83 $1.83
28.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.46 $2.46
50.41%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.8 $2.8
-9.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$46.56 $46.56
59.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.97 $2.97
12.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.59 $27.59
-7.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.26 $1.26
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.5K $27.5K
17.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.5K $27.5K
-4.70%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$243 $243
-22.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$67.8 $67.8
-6.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$81.1 $81.1
-19.56%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$44.66 $44.66
71.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$17.26 $17.26
-24.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.84 $14.84
0.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,007 $1,007
104.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29K $29K
35.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$58.1 $58.1
10.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$29.58 $29.58
77.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$90.5 $90.5
5.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
27.75%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,313 $2,313
2.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,896 $1,896
-16.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,151 $4,151
14.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,209 $3,209
-12.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$6,559 $6,559
-45.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,288 $3,288
-24.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
San Clemente, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
5
32.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Clemente, CA: October 27, 2025

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