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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.4% more expensive than Sonora, CA without rent, and 13% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 31.5% more expensive than Sonora, CA without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.79 $17.79
17.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$77.3 $77.3
29.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.35 $14.35
-16.59%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.38 $4.38
26.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.47 $1.47
111.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.27 $2.27
6.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.99 $5.99
14.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.88 $5.88
43.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.41 $1.41
-26.24%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.3 $4.3
-3.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.6 $4.6
20.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.43 $5.43
-14.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.66 $12.66
13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.86 $9.86
50.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.79 $14.79
30.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.07 $6.07
-14.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.02 $2.02
-15.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.02 $4.02
9.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.13 $6.13
-26.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.89 $2.89
-12.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.35 $3.35
-18.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.17 $2.17
11.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.55 $2.55
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.64 $10.64
42.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.92 $11.92
37.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.31 $3.31
11.78%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.06 $2.06
22.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.59 $3.59
-6.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.08 $2.08
-31.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$40.28 $40.28
-36.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.27 $1.27
-14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.4K $23.4K
38.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.6K $23.6K
10.94%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$275 $275
-31.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.7 $52.7
20.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.8 $72.8
-10.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.97 $42.97
78.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.48 $14.48
3.11%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,122 $1,122
83.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$37.6K $37.6K
4.20%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$59.4 $59.4
8.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$61 $61
-14.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79 $79
20.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$101 $101
43.74%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,597 $1,597
48.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,347 $1,347
17.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,644 $2,644
80.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,235 $2,235
25.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,173 $3,173
13.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,557 $2,557
-2.60%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Sonora, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,082 $4,082
29.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
5
32.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sonora, CA: October 26, 2025

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