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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.6% more expensive than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 32.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.6% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 28.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.55 $20.55

1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65.3 $65.3

53.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.69 $11.69

2.40%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.06 $5.06

9.88%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.17 $3.17

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.45 $2.45

-1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.97 $6.97

-1.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.85 $9.85

-14.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.49 $1.49

-30.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.96 $4.96

-16.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.32 $3.32

66.27%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.78 $4.78

-2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.61 $14.61

-1.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.34 $15.34

-3.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.18 $22.18

-12.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6 $6

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.18 $2.18

-21.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5 $5

-11.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.47 $6.47

-30.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.6 $3.6

-29.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.45 $4.45

-38.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.75 $2.75

-11.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.74 $2.74

-1.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.16 $11.16

36.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.76 $13.76

19.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.43 $3.43

7.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.37 $4.37

-42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$66.5 $66.5

11.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.93 $1.93

-26.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$30.31 $30.31

-16.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.24 $1.24

-12.90%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30K $30K

8.09%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.30%

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

$188 $188

$257 $257

-26.90%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.84 $47.84

33.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.5 $63.5

2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$94.4 $94.4

-18.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.8 $15.8

-5.51%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,987 $1,987

3.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26K $26K

50.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.8 $53.8

19.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$29.65 $29.65

76.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.8 $86.8

9.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$125 $125

16.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,795 $2,795

-14.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,869 $2,869

-44.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$5,762 $5,762

-17.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$5,478 $5,478

-48.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,115 $3,115

15.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,308 $2,308

7.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,443 $7,443

-29.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.32

4.43%

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 Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

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