Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Thousand Oaks, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Thousand Oaks, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15% more expensive than Thousand Oaks, CA without rent, and 22.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.6% more expensive than Thousand Oaks, CA without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.5 $24.5
-15.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$102 $102
-1.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.51 $8.51
40.66%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.7 $5.7
-2.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.64 $2.64
17.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.12 $2.12
14.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.02 $7.02
-2.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.72 $8.72
-3.10%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.16 $1.16
-10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.83 $3.83
8.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.65 $4.65
18.71%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.47 $4.47
4.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.43 $12.43
15.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.64 $13.64
9.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.6 $16.6
16.51%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.05 $5.05
2.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.84 $1.84
-7.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.75 $3.75
17.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.57 $5.57
-19.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.15 $3.15
-19.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.67 $1.67
45.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.1 $2.1
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.76 $8.76
73.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.89 $14.89
10.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.53 $1.53
141.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.81 $2.81
-9.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$49.7 $49.7
49.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.11 $4.11
-18.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.08 $2.08
-31.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$31.94 $31.94
-20.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.29 $1.29
-16.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.7K $28.7K
12.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$20.7K $20.7K
26.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$163 $163
15.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.94 $47.94
32.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.9 $71.9
-9.27%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$67.8 $67.8
13.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$22.27 $22.27
-41.49%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.08 $14.08
6.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,782 $1,782
15.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$39.7K $39.7K
-1.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.6 $50.6
27.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.4 $30.4
72.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$76 $76
25.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$120 $120
20.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,541 $2,541
-6.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,468 $2,468
-35.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,979 $3,979
19.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,437 $3,437
-18.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$5,816 $5,816
-38.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,869 $5,869
-57.57%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Thousand Oaks, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,021 $6,021
-12.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Thousand Oaks, CA: October 27, 2025

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