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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.4% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 32.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.6% more expensive than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 7.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$22.73 $22.73

-8.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.9 $64.9

54.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.05 $11.05

8.33%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.77 $5.77

-3.64%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.6 $2.6

19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.56 $2.56

-5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.94 $5.94

15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.47 $9.47

-10.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.27 $1.27

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.96 $3.96

4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.91 $6.91

-20.12%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.54 $4.54

2.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.52 $15.52

-7.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.85 $12.85

15.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.39 $18.39

5.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.98 $4.98

3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.91 $2.91

-41.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.18 $6.18

-28.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$8.42 $8.42

-46.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.76 $3.76

-32.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.79 $3.79

-27.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.5 $2.5

-2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.96 $2.96

-8.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.81 $10.81

40.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.59 $12.59

30.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.1 $2.1

11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.49 $3.49

6.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.53 $1.53

65.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$30.14 $30.14

145.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.59 $3.59

-6.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.66 $28.66

-11.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.23 $1.23

-12.20%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27K $27K

20.21%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.1K $27.1K

-3.16%

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

$188 $188

$187 $187

0.85%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$51.3 $51.3

24.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.6 $61.6

5.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$247 $247

-68.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$39.9 $39.9

-67.34%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.71 $14.71

1.50%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,967 $1,967

4.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

65.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$41.12 $41.12

56.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$37.89 $37.89

38.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$101 $101

-6.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$122 $122

18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,340 $3,340

-28.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,833 $2,833

-44.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,080 $4,080

16.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,280 $3,280

-14.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,615 $7,615

-52.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,279 $5,279

-52.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,319 $5,319

-0.83%

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 Rafael, CA: October 28, 2025

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