Cost of Living Comparison Between Chula Vista, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chula Vista, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Chula Vista, CA is 12.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chula Vista, CA is 2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.27 $18.27
$20.82 $20.82
-12.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.1 $94.1
$100 $100
-6.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 $15.04
$11.97 $11.97
25.65%
Cappuccino
$5.88 $5.88
$5.56 $5.56
5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.11 $3.11
-4.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.42 $2.42
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.39 $7.39
$6.86 $6.86
7.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$8.45 $8.45
-3.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.04 $1.04
21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.15 $4.15
0.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$5.52 $5.52
-15.76%
Eggs
$5.24 $5.24
$4.65 $4.65
12.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.15 $12.15
$14.33 $14.33
-15.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$14.88 $14.88
-14.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.37 $15.37
$19.34 $19.34
-20.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$5.17 $5.17
-14.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.71 $1.71
2.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.41 $4.41
-10.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$4.51 $4.51
3.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.53 $2.53
15.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.74 $2.74
-10.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.43 $2.43
-12.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.7 $2.7
-10.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87 $10.87
$15.19 $15.19
-28.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.15 $15.15
$16.42 $16.42
-7.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.35 $2.35
-14.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.7 $3.7
-12.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.53 $2.53
-3.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71 $71
$74.1 $74.1
-4.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.42 $1.42
17.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.39 $28.39
$25.42 $25.42
11.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.08 $1.08
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-19.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$269 $269
$188 $188
42.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 $52.9
$63.7 $63.7
-16.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 $59.7
$65.2 $65.2
-8.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.09 $20.09
$76.7 $76.7
-73.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.8 $14.8
$14.93 $14.93
-0.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,482 $1,482
$2,063 $2,063
-28.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K $28.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-27.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.67 $47.67
$64.3 $64.3
-25.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.4 $57.4
$52.4 $52.4
9.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 $98.6
$95.2 $95.2
3.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$145 $145
-30.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,548 $2,548
$2,378 $2,378
7.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,799 $1,799
$1,584 $1,584
13.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,543 $4,543
$4,763 $4,763
-4.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,052 $3,052
$2,815 $2,815
8.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,801 $2,801
$3,588 $3,588
-21.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,425 $2,425
$2,490 $2,490
-2.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chula Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,866 $4,866
$5,275 $5,275
-7.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.6
-3.18%

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

Last update for Chula Vista, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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