Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Valley Center, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Valley Center, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.5% more expensive than Valley Center, CA without rent, and 18.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24% more expensive than Valley Center, CA without rent, and 29.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.87 $17.87

16.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.8 $80.8

24.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$15.28 $15.28

-21.66%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.15 $5.15

7.96%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.58 $3.58

-13.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.31 $2.31

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.36 $7.36

-6.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.8 $7.8

8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.93 $0.93

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.28 $3.28

26.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.76 $4.76

15.97%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.83 $3.83

21.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.35 $12.35

16.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.64 $6.64

124.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.63 $15.63

23.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.46 $4.46

15.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.06 $5.06

-12.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.37 $4.37

3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.22 $2.22

13.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.97 $1.97

39.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.46 $1.46

84.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.92 $9.92

53.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$8.84 $8.84

85.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.9 $1.9

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.04 $2.04

81.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.69 $6.69

-50.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.12 $29.12

-12.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.3 $1.3

-16.92%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

27.87%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$29.1K $29.1K

-10.01%

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

$188 $188

$156 $156

20.30%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.8 $53.8

18.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58 $58

12.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.39 $42.39

80.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.04 $15.04

-0.73%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,505 $1,505

37.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

67.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$47.98 $47.98

34.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.95 $33.95

54.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$100 $100

44.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,591 $1,591

49.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,355 $1,355

16.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,671 $2,671

78.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,209 $2,209

27.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,502 $2,502

43.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,808 $2,808

-11.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.64

-0.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Valley Center, CA: October 29, 2025

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