Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Union City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Union City, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.5% more expensive than Union City, CA without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.5% more expensive than Union City, CA without rent, and 21.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.34 $22.34
-6.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.3 $76.3
31.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.94 $10.94
9.41%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.56 $5.56
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.94 $2.94
5.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.85 $2.85
-15.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.31 $7.31
-6.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.12 $9.12
-7.35%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.21 $1.21
-14.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.69 $3.69
12.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.6 $5.6
-1.43%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.79 $3.79
22.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.42 $19.42
-26.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.69 $9.69
53.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$8.65 $8.65
123.58%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.21 $5.21
-0.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.56 $2.56
-33.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.11 $3.11
41.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.44 $6.44
-29.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.15 $2.15
17.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.23 $4.23
-35.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.23 $2.23
8.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.18 $3.18
-15.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.09 $12.09
25.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.1 $15.1
8.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 $1.85
27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.82 $2.82
31.21%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.46 $3.46
-3.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.85 $1.85
-23.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.72 $28.72
-11.49%
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
$29.8K $29.8K
8.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25K $25K
4.93%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$196 $196
-4.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$46.75 $46.75
36.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$78.3 $78.3
-16.71%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.86 $42.86
79.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.43 $12.43
20.11%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,674 $1,674
23.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$32.3K $32.3K
21.47%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$21.58 $21.58
198.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.39 $34.39
52.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$105 $105
-9.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$230 $230
-37.15%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,607 $1,607
47.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,376 $1,376
15.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$5,398 $5,398
-11.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,258 $2,258
24.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,148 $3,148
13.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,611 $2,611
-4.63%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Union City, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,311 $8,311
-36.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6
10.00%

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 Union City, CA: October 28, 2025

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