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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.5% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 32% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 24.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.3 $20.3

2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.54 $11.54

3.73%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.79 $5.79

-3.97%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.22 $3.22

-3.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.47 $2.47

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.8 $8.8

-22.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$10.92 $10.92

-22.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.46 $1.46

-28.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.94 $4.94

-15.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.19 $3.19

73.04%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.85 $4.85

-4.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$21.13 $21.13

-32.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.17 $15.17

-1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.45 $22.45

-13.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.08 $6.08

-14.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.46 $2.46

-30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.79 $4.79

-7.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.75 $6.75

-33.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.44 $3.44

-26.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.28 $4.28

-35.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.97 $2.97

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.77 $2.77

-2.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.32 $11.32

34.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.95 $14.95

9.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.35 $3.35

10.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$89 $89

-16.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.42 $3.42

-2.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.89 $1.89

-24.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.82 $29.82

-14.76%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

7.38%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27K $27K

-2.89%

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

$188 $188

$292 $292

-35.64%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.13 $49.13

29.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.9 $67.9

-3.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$122 $122

-37.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$30.12 $30.12

-56.74%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.45 $15.45

-3.37%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,985 $1,985

3.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

49.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$52.5 $52.5

22.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$43.85 $43.85

19.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$89.8 $89.8

6.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$138 $138

4.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,022 $3,022

-21.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,672 $2,672

-40.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$5,283 $5,283

-9.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,622 $4,622

-39.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$10.6K $10.6K

-66.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$9,587 $9,587

-74.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,864 $5,864

-10.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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 Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

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