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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,842 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,310 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,778 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 22% cheaper than Thousand Oaks, CA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chicago, IL and Thousand Oaks, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Thousand Oaks, CA by 187%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$25.42 $25.42

-19.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$101 $101

0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$8.64 $8.64

38.66%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.45 $5.45

4.59%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.73 $2.73

9.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.07 $2.07

18.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.83 $6.83

0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.81 $8.81

-8.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.22 $1.22

-15.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.84 $3.84

2.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.65 $4.65

16.56%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.47 $4.47

0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.33 $12.33

17.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.54 $13.54

9.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$16.60 $16.60

14.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.97 $4.97

8.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.92 $1.92

-7.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.79 $3.79

14.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.57 $5.57

-18.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.29 $3.29

-23.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.73 $2.73

2.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.61 $1.61

55.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.09 $2.09

27.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.12 $9.12

63.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$15.04 $15.04

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.77 $1.77

38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.54 $1.54

129.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.67 $2.67

-4.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$50.1 $50.1

48.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.06 $4.06

-21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.10 $2.10

-32.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$31.74 $31.74

-19.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.26 $1.26

-17.46%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$28.1K $28.1K

14.78%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$20.8K $20.8K

28.87%

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

$184 $184

$157 $157

16.84%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$49.59 $49.59

27.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$72.2 $72.2

-7.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$67.3 $67.3

12.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

$22.77 $22.77

-42.64%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$13.81 $13.81

10.43%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,724 $1,724

21.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.8K $39.8K

-1.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$49.72 $49.72

29.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$30.37 $30.37

67.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$77.6 $77.6

25.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$118 $118

26.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$2,589 $2,589

-9.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$2,516 $2,516

-37.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$4,021 $4,021

17.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$3,544 $3,544

-20.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$5,810 $5,810

-32.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$5,917 $5,917

-55.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$5,836 $5,836

-18.29%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Thousand Oaks, CA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $2,589 in Thousand Oaks, 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 22% higher in Thousand Oaks, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in Thousand Oaks, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $410 – making Thousand Oaks, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Thousand Oaks, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $3,842 in Thousand Oaks, CA – roughly 28% apart. Thousand Oaks, CA costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,763 in Thousand Oaks, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Thousand Oaks, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $101 in Thousand Oaks, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $3,842 in Thousand Oaks, 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL to $3,842 in Thousand Oaks, CA. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thousand Oaks, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.