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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.4% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 21.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 19.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.62 $20.62

$23.1 $23.1

-10.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

-0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$15.27 $15.27

-22.86%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.83 $5.83

-0.86%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.03 $3.03

-1.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.6 $2.6

-5.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.8 $6.8

$8.03 $8.03

-15.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 $8.48

$8.79 $8.79

-3.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.21 $1.21

-9.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$4.41 $4.41

-7.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.48 $4.48

19.64%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.29 $5.29

-13.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$13.62 $13.62

5.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.2 $15.2

$12.53 $12.53

21.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 $18.97

$18.43 $18.43

2.93%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.55 $4.55

19.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.64 $1.64

4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.92 $3.92

11.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.84 $4.84

-8.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.48 $2.48

8.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.25 $2.25

7.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.5 $2.5

8.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$11.93 $11.93

24.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.71 $16.71

$14.9 $14.9

12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.8 $1.8

36.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.52 $2.52

42.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.43 $2.43

4.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

$71.9 $71.9

6.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.95 $2.95

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.09 $2.09

-33.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$28.14 $28.14

-10.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.26 $1.26

-16.67%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$31.1K $31.1K

1.00%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.80%

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

$182 $182

$270 $270

-32.41%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$67.6 $67.6

-7.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$80.7 $80.7

-17.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$68.4 $68.4

13.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.18 $13.18

$25.06 $25.06

-47.41%

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$15.93 $15.93

-5.96%

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

$2,022 $2,022

$1,608 $1,608

25.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39K $39K

$29.3K $29.3K

33.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$57.7 $57.7

9.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$58.7 $58.7

-10.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$98.3 $98.3

-2.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$117 $117

27.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$2,792 $2,792

-17.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$2,342 $2,342

-30.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,642 $4,642

$4,956 $4,956

-6.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,204 $4,204

-33.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,708 $3,708

$9,417 $9,417

-60.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,559 $2,559

$7,117 $7,117

-64.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$5,423 $5,423

-3.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.39

3.29%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

Last update for San Diego, CA: November 5, 2025

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