Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,442 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
166

Cost of Living Index in Santa Rosa, CA
Learn more

Santa Rosa, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Santa Rosa, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,442

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Santa Rosa, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Santa Rosa, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,442 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Santa Rosa, CA $3,442

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,030 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Santa Rosa, CA $5,030

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,617 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Santa Rosa, CA $6,617

Chicago, IL is about 12% cheaper than Santa Rosa, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Santa Rosa, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Santa Rosa, CA by 153%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$27.06 $27.06

-23.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$90.5 $90.5

-1.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.15 $12.15

8.56%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.60 $6.60

-14.24%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.22 $3.22

-18.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$3.15 $3.15

-27.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.88 $7.88

-12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.92 $8.92

-0.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.37 $1.37

-8.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.59 $4.59

-18.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.75 $4.75

13.47%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.44 $5.44

-12.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$22.62 $22.62

-38.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.25 $15.25

-5.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$20.99 $20.99

-12.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.10 $6.10

-14.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.50 $2.50

-20.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.76 $6.76

-39.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.84 $6.84

-27.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.94 $3.94

-32.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.48 $3.48

-23.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.06 $3.06

-26.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.97 $1.97

58.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.74 $11.74

17.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.85 $11.85

25.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.16 $2.16

17.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.07 $2.07

69.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.53 $1.53

58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$50.2 $50.2

46.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.93 $3.93

-19.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.95 $1.95

-28.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$29.43 $29.43

-14.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.49 $1.49

-19.46%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

27.40%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.15%

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

$194 $194

$196 $196

-0.74%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$49.40 $49.40

40.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$71.5 $71.5

-13.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$68.2 $68.2

-29.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$13.99 $13.99

95.43%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.27 $14.27

24.81%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,255 $1,255

42.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$40.0K $40.0K

-20.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$50.5 $50.5

32.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$36.55 $36.55

42.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$105 $105

-3.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$127 $127

13.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,336 $2,336

8.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,893 $1,893

-16.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,569 $3,569

32.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,100 $3,100

-13.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$5,019 $5,019

-16.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$4,908 $4,908

-43.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,740 $4,740

4.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.46

5.42%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa, CA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Santa Rosa, CA

$1.9K 55% 20% $315

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Santa Rosa, CA

$507 14.7% 13.4% $60

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Santa Rosa, CA

$415 12.1% 20.3% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Santa Rosa, CA

$317 9.2% 2.7% $8.7

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Santa Rosa, CA

$143 4.2% 12.5% $21

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Santa Rosa, CA

$70 2% 25% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Santa Rosa, CA

$97 2.8% 15.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,336 in Santa Rosa, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $91 in Santa Rosa, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $507 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Santa Rosa, CA

🕒 Local time

22:48 10:48 PM

20:48 8:48 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

174,972

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Santa Rosa, CA 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Santa Rosa, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Santa Rosa, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,442 in Santa Rosa, CA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 12% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,164 in Santa Rosa, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $2,336 in Santa Rosa, CA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Santa Rosa, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Santa Rosa, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,442 in Santa Rosa, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chicago, IL costs $3,037 versus $3,442 in Santa Rosa, CA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.