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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.5% more expensive than Ventura, CA without rent, and 14.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.8% more expensive than Ventura, CA without rent, and 1.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.1 $25.1

-17.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.9 $74.9

33.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.83 $9.83

21.77%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.5 $5.5

1.09%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.71 $2.71

14.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.03 $2.03

19.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.84 $5.84

17.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.08 $8.08

4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.24 $1.24

-16.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.54 $5.54

-25.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.63 $4.63

19.22%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.56 $4.56

1.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.15 $11.15

28.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.42 $11.42

30.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.61 $14.61

32.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5 $5

3.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.68 $1.68

1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.9 $2.9

52.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.32 $5.32

-15.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.88 $2.88

-12.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.83 $1.83

32.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.81 $1.81

49.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.5 $10.5

44.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.53 $13.53

21.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.41 $3.41

8.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.46 $1.46

73.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$49.28 $49.28

50.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.96 $3.96

-15.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.99 $1.99

-28.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$32.5 $32.5

-21.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.23 $1.23

-12.20%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.6K $28.6K

13.48%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.17%

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

$188 $188

$199 $199

-5.22%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.1 $54.1

17.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.6 $72.6

-10.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$54.2 $54.2

41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$20.17 $20.17

-35.40%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.2 $14.2

5.14%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,104 $1,104

86.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.5K $39.5K

-0.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.65 $49.65

29.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$29.69 $29.69

76.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$66.6 $66.6

43.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$85.9 $85.9

68.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,530 $2,530

-6.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,174 $2,174

-27.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,222 $3,222

47.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,394 $3,394

-17.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$6,536 $6,536

-45.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$6,128 $6,128

-59.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,655 $4,655

13.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.69

-1.35%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ventura, CA: October 27, 2025

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