Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saratoga, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saratoga, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.3% more expensive than Saratoga, CA without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23% more expensive than Saratoga, CA without rent, and 10.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.25 $20.25

2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.1 $80.1

25.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.49 $11.49

4.18%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.95 $5.95

-6.55%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.3 $3.3

-5.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.46 $2.46

-1.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.84 $6.84

0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.29 $7.29

15.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.41 $1.41

-26.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.97 $4.97

-16.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.25 $3.25

69.85%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.93 $4.93

-5.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$30.45 $30.45

-52.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.3 $15.3

-2.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$23.58 $23.58

-17.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.22 $6.22

-16.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.46 $2.46

-30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.84 $4.84

-8.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.68 $6.68

-32.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.42 $3.42

-26.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.34 $4.34

-36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.1 $3.1

-21.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.88 $2.88

-6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.39 $11.39

33.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.3 $17.3

-5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.09 $2.09

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.7 $2.7

37.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.82 $1.82

-21.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$30.38 $30.38

-16.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.31 $1.31

-17.56%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.2K $30.2K

7.46%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.1K $27.1K

-3.35%

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

$188 $188

$298 $298

-36.82%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.48 $46.48

37.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.1 $68.1

-4.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.1 $43.1

78.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.45 $15.45

-3.37%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,000 $2,000

3.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

53.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$64.1 $64.1

0.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$43.34 $43.34

20.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$81.6 $81.6

16.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$114 $114

26.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,595 $1,595

49.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,377 $1,377

15.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,649 $2,649

79.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,257 $2,257

24.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,656 $2,656

35.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,504 $2,504

-0.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$9,939 $9,939

-46.93%

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 Saratoga, CA: October 28, 2025

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