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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9% cheaper than Santa Clara, CA without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.2% more expensive than Santa Clara, CA without rent, and 23.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.75 $24.75

-15.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$112 $112

-10.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.76 $13.76

-13.01%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.07 $6.07

-8.40%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.39 $3.39

-8.26%

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

$8.76 $8.76

-21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.93 $8.93

-5.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.44 $1.44

-27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.91 $4.91

-15.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.06 $3.06

80.39%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.46 $5.46

-14.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$21.17 $21.17

-32.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.81 $14.81

0.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.98 $22.98

-15.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.22 $6.22

-16.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.81 $2.81

-39.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.97 $4.97

-11.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.79 $6.79

-33.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.49 $3.49

-27.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.94 $3.94

-30.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.9 $2.9

-16.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.85 $2.85

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.22 $11.22

35.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.02 $12.02

36.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.26 $2.26

3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.2 $3.2

15.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.92 $2.92

-13.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$68.7 $68.7

7.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.23 $4.23

-21.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.95 $1.95

-27.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.74 $29.74

-14.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.32 $1.32

-18.18%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.2K $30.2K

7.35%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.52%

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

$188 $188

$224 $224

-15.91%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.72 $48.72

30.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.1 $68.1

-4.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$98.2 $98.2

-21.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$12.61 $12.61

3.33%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$16.92 $16.92

-11.76%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,947 $1,947

5.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

50.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.9 $56.9

12.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.22 $44.22

18.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.8 $86.8

9.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$135 $135

7.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,997 $2,997

-20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,366 $2,366

-33.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,299 $4,299

10.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,314 $4,314

-34.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$8,748 $8,748

-58.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$8,968 $8,968

-72.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$8,325 $8,325

-36.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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 Clara, CA: October 26, 2025

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