Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Saratoga, CA: $2,517 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
122

Cost of Living Index in Saratoga, CA
Learn more

Saratoga, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Saratoga, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,517

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Saratoga, 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 Saratoga, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,517 in Saratoga, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Saratoga, CA $2,517

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,732 in Saratoga, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Saratoga, CA $3,732

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,947 in Saratoga, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Saratoga, CA $4,947

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Saratoga, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Saratoga, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Saratoga, CA by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$25.17 $25.17

-17.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$110 $110

-17.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$13.16 $13.16

-1.67%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.98 $4.98

12.45%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.96 $1.96

34.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$0.98 $0.98

131.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.09 $3.09

125.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$6.08 $6.08

45.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.30 $1.30

-2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.39 $3.39

12.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.25 $3.25

63.08%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.95 $3.95

20.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$5.53 $5.53

152.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$4.35 $4.35

235.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$10.87 $10.87

72.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.67 $4.67

11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.08 $1.08

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.12 $1.12

250.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.25 $3.25

52.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$0.76 $0.76

263.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$0.80 $0.80

245.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.23 $1.23

80.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.46 $1.46

104.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.72 $11.72

19.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$3.91 $3.91

290.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.74 $1.74

48.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.63 $4.63

-24.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$65.9 $65.9

13.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.51 $3.51

-4.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.89 $0.89

60.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$26.05 $26.05

-6.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.48 $1.48

-14.86%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$21.9K $21.9K

59.93%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.70%

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

$193 $193

$288 $288

-33.15%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$35.61 $35.61

91.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$29.64 $29.64

106.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$40.95 $40.95

32.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$15.11 $15.11

84.78%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$7.96 $7.96

122.86%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,407 $1,407

17.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$42.0K $42.0K

-26.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$39.80 $39.80

66.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$25.03 $25.03

104.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$76.1 $76.1

31.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$152 $152

-7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,584 $1,584

54.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,304 $1,304

28.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,492 $2,492

89.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,139 $2,139

30.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,515 $2,515

63.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,359 $2,359

12.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$8,088 $8,088

-39.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

13.50%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Saratoga, CA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Saratoga, CA

$1.3K 51.8% 22.3% $374

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Saratoga, CA

$249 9.9% 44.5% $200

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Saratoga, CA

$340 13.5% 1% $3.4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Saratoga, CA

$354 14% 9.7% $31

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Saratoga, CA

$132 5.2% 18.3% $30

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Saratoga, CA

$82 3.3% 13.8% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Saratoga, CA

$57 2.3% 36.5% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,584 in Saratoga, 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 66% higher in Saratoga, CA, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $110 in Saratoga, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $249 in Saratoga, CA – so Saratoga, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Saratoga, CA

🕒 Local time

05:20 5:20 AM

03:20 3:20 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

30,153

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Saratoga, CA 2,970 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Saratoga, 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 Saratoga, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,517 in Saratoga, CA – roughly 25% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,776 in Saratoga, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saratoga, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $110 in Saratoga, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,517 in Saratoga, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,517 in Saratoga, CA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saratoga, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.