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 47% more expensive than San Ramon, CA without rent, and 23.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 54.4% more expensive than San Ramon, CA without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$17.82 $17.82
12.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$59.0 $59.0
72.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$11.16 $11.16
7.71%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.40 $5.40
4.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.02 $2.02
49.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.08 $3.08
-23.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$8.87 $8.87
-21.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.83 $8.83
-4.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.70 $2.70
52.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$3.19 $3.19
74.61%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.93 $3.93
14.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$10.97 $10.97
31.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.22 $11.22
33.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$12.91 $12.91
47.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$3.35 $3.35
55.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$3.34 $3.34
-46.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.28 $3.28
32.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.52 $4.52
0.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.18 $2.18
16.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.84 $2.84
-4.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.49 $1.49
67.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.48 $1.48
77.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$8.58 $8.58
76.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$10.10 $10.10
47.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.06 $2.06
19.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.34 $2.34
56.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.97 $1.97
30.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$4.55 $4.55
-27.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.87 $1.87
-26.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.89 $29.89
-16.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.26 $1.26
-15.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
4.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$106 $106
76.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$38.30 $38.30
64.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$61.8 $61.8
6.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$43.75 $43.75
71.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$15.95 $15.95
-5.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,154 $1,154
79.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$24.5K $24.5K
58.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$55.8 $55.8
14.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$39.54 $39.54
28.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$101 $101
-3.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$81.0 $81.0
77.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$2,536 $2,536
-7.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,340 $1,340
20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,616 $2,616
82.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,254 $2,254
22.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
San Ramon, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$9,427 $9,427
-46.89%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for San Ramon, CA: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities