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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chico, CA is 2.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chico, CA is 5.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.21 $25.21

$20.82 $20.82

21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$100 $100

-39.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.02 $13.02

$11.97 $11.97

8.77%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.56 $5.56

4.50%

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

$2.5 $2.5

$3.11 $3.11

-19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.42 $2.42

-8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.86 $6.86

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 $8.68

$8.45 $8.45

2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.04 $1.04

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$4.15 $4.15

-12.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$5.52 $5.52

-36.23%

Eggs

$5.55 $5.55

$4.65 $4.65

19.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$14.33 $14.33

-9.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.62 $10.62

$14.88 $14.88

-28.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$19.34 $19.34

-13.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$5.17 $5.17

7.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.71 $1.71

25.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$4.41 $4.41

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 $5.41

$4.51 $4.51

19.96%

Potato (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.53 $2.53

82.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.74 $2.74

22.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.43 $2.43

-8.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.7 $2.7

-12.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.97 $7.97

$15.19 $15.19

-47.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 $12.17

$16.42 $16.42

-25.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.35 $2.35

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.7 $3.7

45.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.53 $2.53

20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.5 $34.5

$74.1 $74.1

-53.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.34 $3.34

2.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.42 $1.42

41.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.27 $39.27

$25.42 $25.42

54.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.08 $1.08

12.04%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-27.77%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.63%

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

$193 $193

$188 $188

2.41%

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

$53 $53

$63.7 $63.7

-16.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$65.2 $65.2

9.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 $60.5

$76.7 $76.7

-21.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.1 $14.1

$14.93 $14.93

-5.56%

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

$1,864 $1,864

$2,063 $2,063

-9.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.6K $37.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-3.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 $59.4

$64.3 $64.3

-7.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.47 $31.47

$52.4 $52.4

-39.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 $77.2

$95.2 $95.2

-18.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 $95.2

$145 $145

-34.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 $1,437

$2,378 $2,378

-39.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 $1,221

$1,584 $1,584

-22.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,784 $2,784

$4,763 $4,763

-41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,227 $2,227

$2,815 $2,815

-20.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,340 $3,340

$3,588 $3,588

-6.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,057 $3,057

$2,490 $2,490

22.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,981 $3,981

$5,275 $5,275

-24.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Chico, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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