Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $4,547 in San Rafael, CA, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
219

Cost of Living Index in San Rafael, CA
Learn more

San Rafael, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

San Rafael, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,547

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in San Rafael, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in San Rafael, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,547 in San Rafael, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
San Rafael, CA $4,547

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,255 in San Rafael, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
San Rafael, CA $6,255

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $7,963 in San Rafael, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
San Rafael, CA $7,963

Chicago, IL is about 33% cheaper than San Rafael, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and San Rafael, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, San Rafael, CA by 234%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.37 $25.37

-18.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$122 $122

-26.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.67 $11.67

13.02%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.80 $4.80

17.92%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.95 $2.95

-10.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.93 $2.93

-22.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.64 $5.64

21.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.97 $6.97

26.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.50 $1.50

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.59 $4.59

-18.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$9.70 $9.70

-44.43%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.44 $5.44

-12.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$22.82 $22.82

-39.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.29 $15.29

-5.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.54 $18.54

-0.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$7.29 $7.29

-28.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.95 $2.95

-32.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.66 $6.66

-39.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$8.36 $8.36

-40.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.86 $5.86

-54.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$5.65 $5.65

-52.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.14 $3.14

-28.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.99 $3.99

-21.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.42 $11.42

21.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.78 $12.78

16.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.23 $2.23

13.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.99 $2.99

17.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$40.37 $40.37

82.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.01 $4.01

-20.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$4.39 $4.39

-68.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$29.55 $29.55

-15.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.40 $1.40

-14.29%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

19.16%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.49%

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

$194 $194

$251 $251

-22.65%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$85.1 $85.1

-18.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$61.7 $61.7

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$124 $124

-61.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$29.91 $29.91

-8.59%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.93 $12.93

37.74%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,091 $2,091

-14.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.1K $24.1K

32.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$60.9 $60.9

10.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$42.54 $42.54

22.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$96.5 $96.5

5.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$130 $130

10.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,814 $2,814

-10.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,838 $2,838

-44.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$4,116 $4,116

15.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,993 $3,993

-32.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$8,383 $8,383

-50.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$5,743 $5,743

-51.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,930 $6,930

-28.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.62

2.87%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for San Rafael, CA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

San Rafael, CA

$2.8K 62.4% 79.9% $1.3K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

San Rafael, CA

$577 12.7% 28.9% $129

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

San Rafael, CA

$361 7.9% 4.7% $16

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

San Rafael, CA

$398 8.8% 22.3% $73

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

San Rafael, CA

$149 3.3% 9.4% $15

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

San Rafael, CA

$75 1.6% 20.1% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

San Rafael, CA

$150 3.3% 79.2% $66

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,814 in San Rafael, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in San Rafael, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $122 in San Rafael, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $577 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 San Rafael, CA

🕒 Local time

03:35 3:35 AM

01:35 1:35 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

58,704

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL San Rafael, CA 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
San Rafael, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs San Rafael, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $4,547 in San Rafael, CA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 33% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $6,821 in San Rafael, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,526 there versus $2,814 in San Rafael, CA.

Groceries cost about 29% more in San Rafael, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $122 in San Rafael, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $4,547 in San Rafael, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Rafael, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.