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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.2% cheaper than Vacaville, CA without rent, and 17.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.8% cheaper than Vacaville, CA without rent, and 1.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.02 $15.02
38.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$44.78 $44.78
124.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.85 $12.85
-6.85%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.79 $5.79
-3.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.35 $3.35
-7.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.48 $2.48
-2.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.05 $7.05
-2.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.03 $7.03
20.20%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.47 $1.47
-29.25%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.91 $4.91
-15.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.77 $6.77
-18.46%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.26 $6.26
-25.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$23.13 $23.13
-38.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.14 $15.14
-1.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$23.63 $23.63
-18.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.18 $7.18
-27.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.83 $2.83
-39.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.2 $5.2
-15.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$7.59 $7.59
-40.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.9 $3.9
-35.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.94 $3.94
-30.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.8 $2.8
-13.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.75 $2.75
-1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.27 $14.27
6.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$18.08 $18.08
-9.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.56 $2.56
-8.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.3 $3.3
12.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.25 $4.25
-21.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.88 $1.88
-24.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$39.56 $39.56
-35.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.16 $1.16
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.1K $35.1K
-7.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$217 $217
-13.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$64.1 $64.1
-0.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.7 $67.7
-3.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$68.8 $68.8
11.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$17.14 $17.14
-12.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,290 $1,290
59.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$38.6K $38.6K
1.53%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$69.7 $69.7
-7.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.02 $46.02
13.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$151 $151
-4.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,318 $2,318
2.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,215 $2,215
-28.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,051 $3,051
56.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,883 $2,883
-2.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,776 $2,776
29.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,243 $2,243
11.03%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Vacaville, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,015 $4,015
31.37%
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 Vacaville, CA: October 29, 2025

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