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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 42.7% more expensive than Walnut, CA without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.9% more expensive than Walnut, CA without rent, and 36.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.08 $18.08
15.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.7 $80.7
24.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.78 $14.78
-19.01%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.35 $5.35
3.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.56 $3.56
-12.64%
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
$7.38 $7.38
-7.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.98 $7.98
5.89%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.12 $1.12
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.77 $3.77
10.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.5 $2.5
120.80%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.79 $3.79
22.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.6 $7.6
88.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.01 $9.01
65.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.04 $10.04
92.63%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.42 $3.42
51.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.55 $1.55
10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.16 $2.16
104.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.53 $3.53
27.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.73 $1.73
46.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.33 $1.33
106.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.95 $1.95
24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.84 $1.84
46.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.1 $8.1
87.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.06 $12.06
36.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.01 $2.01
16.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.02 $3.02
22.52%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.99 $1.99
27.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6.42 $6.42
-47.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.64 $1.64
-13.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.32 $29.32
-13.30%
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
$25.2K $25.2K
28.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.75%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$99.1 $99.1
89.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.8 $54.8
16.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$50.4 $50.4
29.47%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.57 $42.57
80.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.07 $15.07
-0.93%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,524 $1,524
35.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.36%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$34.71 $34.71
85.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.01 $34.01
54.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$68 $68
40.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$59.3 $59.3
143.82%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,601 $1,601
48.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,343 $1,343
17.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,666 $2,666
78.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,184 $2,184
28.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,017 $3,017
18.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,497 $2,497
-0.28%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Walnut, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,012 $5,012
5.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.64
-0.60%

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 Walnut, CA: October 29, 2025

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