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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.1% more expensive than San Ramon, CA without rent, and 23.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.2% more expensive than San Ramon, CA without rent, and 34.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.91 $17.91
16.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.9 $58.9
70.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.89 $10.89
9.92%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.33 $5.33
4.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.97 $1.97
57.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.93 $2.93
-17.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$9.23 $9.23
-25.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.84 $8.84
-4.41%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.07 $1.07
-2.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.69 $2.69
54.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.06 $3.06
80.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.91 $3.91
18.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.05 $11.05
29.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.8 $10.8
37.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.49 $12.49
54.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.41 $3.41
51.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$3.26 $3.26
-47.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.27 $3.27
34.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.47 $4.47
0.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.19 $2.19
15.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.81 $2.81
-2.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.48 $1.48
64.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.46 $1.46
84.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.91 $8.91
70.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.19 $10.19
61.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.07 $2.07
13.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.28 $2.28
62.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.39 $4.39
-23.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.88 $1.88
-24.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.18 $30.18
-15.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.2 $1.2
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.8K $29.8K
8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.1K $27.1K
-3.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$106 $106
77.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$38.27 $38.27
66.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62 $62
5.25%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.75 $42.75
79.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.86 $15.86
-5.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,129 $1,129
82.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.18%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56.5 $56.5
13.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.44 $39.44
32.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$101 $101
-5.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$78.6 $78.6
84.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,471 $2,471
-3.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,333 $1,333
18.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,614 $2,614
82.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,235 $2,235
25.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,680 $2,680
33.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,622 $2,622
-5.01%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$9,397 $9,397
-43.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

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 Ramon, CA: October 27, 2025

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