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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.1% more expensive than Santa Clarita, CA without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Santa Clarita, CA without rent, and 0.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.87 $18.87
10.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$86.7 $86.7
15.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$15.05 $15.05
-20.47%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.04 $6.04
-7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.23 $3.23
-3.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.41 $2.41
0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.89 $8.89
-22.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.76 $8.76
-3.54%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.28 $1.28
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4 $4
3.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.14 $5.14
7.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.57 $5.57
-16.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$23.55 $23.55
-39.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.41 $10.41
42.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.94 $16.94
14.17%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.48 $6.48
-20.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.94 $1.94
-11.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.71 $3.71
18.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.95 $2.95
52.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$9.94 $9.94
-74.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.29 $4.29
-36.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.97 $2.97
-18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.02 $3.02
-10.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.12 $13.12
15.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.02 $17.02
-3.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.74 $1.74
35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.09 $4.09
-9.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.47 $2.47
2.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$26.98 $26.98
174.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6 $6
-44.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.03 $2.03
-30.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$50.1 $50.1
-49.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.21 $1.21
-10.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$19.8K $19.8K
63.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$231 $231
-18.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$61.2 $61.2
4.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$76.3 $76.3
-14.55%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$36.53 $36.53
110.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$24.6 $24.6
-47.03%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.7 $12.7
17.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,403 $1,403
47.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$37.4K $37.4K
4.73%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$69.2 $69.2
-7.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$15.08 $15.08
247.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$49.21 $49.21
93.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$146 $146
-0.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,913 $2,913
-18.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,291 $2,291
-30.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,939 $3,939
20.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,045 $3,045
-7.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,631 $3,631
-1.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,342 $4,342
-42.65%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Santa Clarita, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,830 $5,830
-9.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.68
-1.20%

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 Clarita, CA: October 29, 2025

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