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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 43.3% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 5.2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 55.8% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 10.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.18 $20.18

3.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$68.9 $68.9

45.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.29 $11.29

6.02%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.76 $4.76

16.81%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.45 $2.45

26.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.01 $2.01

20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.11 $6.11

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.16 $8.16

3.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.72 $2.72

52.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.76 $4.76

15.97%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.59 $3.59

29.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.26 $10.26

39.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.37 $8.37

77.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.21 $17.21

12.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.81 $3.81

35.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.48 $3.48

26.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.25 $3.25

38.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.07 $3.07

-17.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.07 $2.07

32.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.78 $1.78

36.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.31 $1.31

106.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11 $11

38.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.26 $15.26

7.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.31 $3.31

11.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.49 $3.49

-4.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.81 $1.81

-21.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.6 $24.6

3.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.23 $1.23

-12.20%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$36.8K $36.8K

-11.91%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$29.4K $29.4K

-10.69%

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

$188 $188

$166 $166

13.30%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$51.1 $51.1

24.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$85.4 $85.4

-23.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.52 $43.52

76.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.55 $14.55

2.61%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$992 $992

107.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$12.9K $12.9K

204.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.2 $55.2

16.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.73 $39.73

31.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$73 $73

30.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$78.1 $78.1

85.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,257 $2,257

5.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,063 $2,063

-23.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,376 $3,376

41.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,138 $3,138

-10.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,992 $7,992

-55.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$7,900 $7,900

-68.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,387 $4,387

20.25%

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 Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

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