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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cupertino, CA is 14.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cupertino, CA is 8.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.14 $22.14
$20.82 $20.82
6.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.8 $66.8
$100 $100
-33.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 $10.01
$11.97 $11.97
-16.37%
Cappuccino
$5.25 $5.25
$5.56 $5.56
-5.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 $3.11
-17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.42 $2.42
4.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 $5.96
$6.86 $6.86
-13.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.46 $8.46
$8.45 $8.45
0.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.04 $1.04
23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.6 $3.6
$4.15 $4.15
-13.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$5.52 $5.52
-21.74%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$4.65 $4.65
-22.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.71 $8.71
$14.33 $14.33
-39.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.92 $10.92
$14.88 $14.88
-26.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.8 $10.8
$19.34 $19.34
-44.16%
Apples (1kg)
$6.18 $6.18
$5.17 $5.17
19.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 $1.71
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.41 $4.41
-0.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$4.51 $4.51
23.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.53 $2.53
53.75%
Onion (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$2.74 $2.74
112.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.43 $2.43
-23.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.7 $2.7
-24.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.84 $9.84
$15.19 $15.19
-35.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 $10.46
$16.42 $16.42
-36.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.35 $2.35
-8.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.7 $3.7
-32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$74.1 $74.1
88.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.34 $3.34
6.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.65 $29.65
$25.42 $25.42
16.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.08 $1.08
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K $30.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$188 $188
0.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 $50.5
$63.7 $63.7
-20.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.9 $65.9
$65.2 $65.2
1.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.61 $45.61
$76.7 $76.7
-40.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.91 $17.91
$14.93 $14.93
19.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,121 $2,121
$2,063 $2,063
2.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-41.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.36 $31.36
$64.3 $64.3
-51.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.58 $34.58
$52.4 $52.4
-34.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.4 $70.4
$95.2 $95.2
-26.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9 $69.9
$145 $145
-51.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,429 $2,429
$2,378 $2,378
2.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 $1,925
$1,584 $1,584
21.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,450 $4,450
$4,763 $4,763
-6.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,110 $4,110
$2,815 $2,815
46.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,745 $2,745
$3,588 $3,588
-23.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,171 $2,171
$2,490 $2,490
-12.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cupertino, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,637 $7,637
$5,275 $5,275
44.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for Cupertino, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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