Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Santa Ana, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Santa Ana, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.5% more expensive than Santa Ana, CA without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.9% more expensive than Santa Ana, CA without rent, and 1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.18 $18.18

14.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.4 $85.4

17.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.89 $14.89

-19.61%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.01 $5.01

10.98%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.64 $2.64

17.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.99 $1.99

21.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.96 $6.96

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.97 $6.97

21.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.12 $1.12

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.96 $3.96

4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.77 $4.77

15.72%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$7.02 $7.02

-33.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.28 $12.28

16.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.11 $16.11

-7.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.64 $14.64

32.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.44 $4.44

16.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.73 $1.73

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.13 $4.13

6.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.75 $5.75

-21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.18 $3.18

-20.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.82 $2.82

-2.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2 $2

21.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.06 $11.06

37.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.94 $9.94

65.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2 $2

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.44 $3.44

7.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.01 $2.01

25.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$69.9 $69.9

6.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.7 $6.7

-50.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.68 $2.68

-47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.25 $29.25

-13.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.28 $1.28

-15.62%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

34.10%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24K $24K

9.15%

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

$188 $188

$158 $158

19.42%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.15 $46.15

38.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58.9 $58.9

10.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$24.79 $24.79

209.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$10.09 $10.09

29.14%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.24 $14.24

4.85%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,227 $1,227

68.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

68.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.81 $46.81

37.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.21 $34.21

53.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.9 $84.9

12.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$86.6 $86.6

67.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,221 $2,221

7.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,914 $1,914

-17.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,055 $3,055

55.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,241 $3,241

-13.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,331 $4,331

-17.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,273 $4,273

-41.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,913 $3,913

34.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Ana, CA: October 28, 2025

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