Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Simi Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Simi Valley, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.6% more expensive than Simi Valley, CA without rent, and 10% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30% more expensive than Simi Valley, CA without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$23.29 $23.29

-10.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$70.4 $70.4

42.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.09 $10.09

18.63%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.48 $5.48

1.46%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.96 $1.96

58.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.05 $2.05

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.3 $5.3

29.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.56 $7.56

11.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.2 $1.2

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.35 $2.35

76.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.63 $4.63

19.22%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.58 $4.58

1.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.62 $12.62

13.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.81 $10.81

37.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.78 $14.78

30.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.17 $2.17

138.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.94 $1.94

-11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.6 $3.6

22.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.52 $5.52

-18.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.57 $2.57

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.95 $2.95

-7.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.08 $2.08

29.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.93 $11.93

27.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.74 $9.74

68.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.48 $4.48

-17.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.95 $3.95

-15.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$31.56 $31.56

-19.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 $1.25

-13.60%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.4K $28.4K

14.07%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.1K $27.1K

-3.21%

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

$188 $188

$202 $202

-6.78%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55 $55

15.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.1 $72.1

-9.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.09 $43.09

78.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.92 $11.92

25.25%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,195 $1,195

72.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.6K $39.6K

-1.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$70.3 $70.3

-8.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.29 $41.29

26.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$77.7 $77.7

22.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$154 $154

-5.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,088 $2,088

13.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,982 $1,982

-20.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,423 $2,423

96.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,283 $3,283

-14.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,388 $2,388

50.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,292 $2,292

8.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,366 $5,366

-1.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.69

-1.35%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Simi Valley, CA: October 27, 2025

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