Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Mesa, CA is 9.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.1% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Costa Mesa, CA is 7.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.82 $20.82

-4.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$100 $100

-21.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.8 $11.8

$11.97 $11.97

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$5.56 $5.56

-4.32%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$3.11 $3.11

7.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.42 $2.42

-7.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$6.86 $6.86

2.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.9 $7.9

$8.45 $8.45

-6.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.04 $1.04

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.15 $4.15

-1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.52 $5.52

-21.92%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$4.65 $4.65

6.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$14.33 $14.33

-26.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 $8.47

$14.88 $14.88

-43.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$19.34 $19.34

-26.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$5.17 $5.17

-12.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.71 $1.71

14.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.5 $4.5

$4.41 $4.41

2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.51 $4.51

21.51%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.53 $2.53

72.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.74 $2.74

4.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.43 $2.43

-14.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.7 $2.7

-21.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$15.19 $15.19

-28.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.46 $13.46

$16.42 $16.42

-18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2 $2

$2.35 $2.35

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.7 $3.7

-7.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 $6.56

$3.34 $3.34

96.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.42 $1.42

97.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.36 $29.36

$25.42 $25.42

15.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.08 $1.08

15.74%

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

$24K $24K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.02%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.24%

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

$291 $291

$188 $188

54.67%

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

$52.8 $52.8

$63.7 $63.7

-17.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.5 $60.5

$65.2 $65.2

-7.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.34 $39.34

$76.7 $76.7

-48.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$14.93 $14.93

-0.13%

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

$1,206 $1,206

$2,063 $2,063

-41.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$64.3 $64.3

-13.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.5 $34.5

$52.4 $52.4

-34.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 $87.3

$95.2 $95.2

-8.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$145 $145

-29.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,804 $2,804

$2,378 $2,378

17.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 $2,474

$1,584 $1,584

56.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,947 $3,947

$4,763 $4,763

-17.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$2,815 $2,815

38.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,932 $2,932

$3,588 $3,588

-18.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,360 $2,360

$2,490 $2,490

-5.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,322 $6,322

$5,275 $5,275

19.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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