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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.7% more expensive than Sunnyvale, CA without rent, and 22.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14% more expensive than Sunnyvale, CA without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.41 $22.41
-7.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65.8 $65.8
52.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.8 $10.8
10.83%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.63 $5.63
-1.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.53 $2.53
22.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.57 $2.57
-5.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.28 $7.28
-5.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.98 $7.98
5.89%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.3 $1.3
-20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.74 $4.74
-12.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.37 $4.37
26.32%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.59 $3.59
29.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.87 $10.87
31.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.99 $10.99
35.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.22 $14.22
36.01%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.93 $3.93
31.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.16 $2.16
-20.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.89 $3.89
13.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5 $5
-9.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.46 $2.46
2.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.24 $2.24
22.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.57 $2.57
-5.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$0.99 $0.99
172.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.37 $8.37
81.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.83 $11.83
38.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.16 $2.16
8.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.55 $2.55
45.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.95 $2.95
-14.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$30.31 $30.31
144.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.03 $4.03
-17.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.9 $1.9
-25.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$38.37 $38.37
-33.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.24 $1.24
-12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.5K $27.5K
18.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.2K $27.2K
-3.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$184 $184
2.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51 $51
24.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$60.6 $60.6
7.68%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$49.19 $49.19
55.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$16.36 $16.36
-20.35%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$16.91 $16.91
-11.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,677 $2,677
-22.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$37.5K $37.5K
4.58%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$62.3 $62.3
3.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.54 $34.54
51.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.6 $98.6
-3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$149 $149
-3.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,729 $2,729
-12.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,625 $2,625
-39.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,997 $4,997
-4.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,042 $4,042
-30.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$9,023 $9,023
-60.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$8,868 $8,868
-71.92%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Sunnyvale, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,826 $8,826
-40.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sunnyvale, CA: October 28, 2025

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