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 $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,821 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,185 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,548 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 19% 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 131%, Thousand Oaks, CA by 184%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$25.22 $25.22

-19.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$99.7 $99.7

-1.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$8.78 $8.78

37.47%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.57 $5.57

2.87%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.60 $2.60

14.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$7.12 $7.12

-1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.89 $8.89

-7.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.18 $1.18

-11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.70 $3.70

10.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.65 $4.65

18.28%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.54 $4.54

2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.56 $12.56

14.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$13.87 $13.87

9.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$16.35 $16.35

17.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.17 $5.17

-0.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.94 $1.94

-9.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.89 $3.89

11.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.60 $5.60

-22.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.23 $3.23

-24.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.80 $2.80

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.68 $1.68

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.11 $2.11

26.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.90 $8.90

67.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.07 $15.07

-0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.71 $1.71

43.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.54 $1.54

129.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.70 $2.70

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$49.31 $49.31

51.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.94 $3.94

-15.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.03 $2.03

-32.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$31.50 $31.50

-20.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.25 $1.25

-12.80%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.7K $28.7K

10.93%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$21.2K $21.2K

26.37%

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

$187 $187

$161 $161

16.25%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$49.39 $49.39

28.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$71.3 $71.3

-8.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$66.0 $66.0

14.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

$22.86 $22.86

-42.91%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.78 $13.78

7.40%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,739 $1,739

16.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$40.8K $40.8K

-4.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$51.0 $51.0

25.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$30.60 $30.60

69.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$75.9 $75.9

26.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$117 $117

24.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$2,540 $2,540

-8.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$2,493 $2,493

-35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$3,897 $3,897

20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$3,434 $3,434

-20.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$5,947 $5,947

-35.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$5,835 $5,835

-56.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$5,989 $5,989

-14.85%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Thousand Oaks, CA: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $2,540 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 17% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Thousand Oaks, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $412 in Thousand Oaks, CA – so Thousand Oaks, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $3,821 in Thousand Oaks, CA – roughly 23% apart. Thousand Oaks, CA costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,732 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $100 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 $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $3,821 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 $3,111 in Chicago, IL to $3,821 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.