Cost of Living Comparison Between Dana Point, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Dana Point, CA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Dana Point, CA is 8.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Dana Point, CA is 6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.38 $25.38
$20.82 $20.82
21.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.6 $99.6
$100 $100
-0.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$11.97 $11.97
0.50%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.56 $5.56
5.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.11 $3.11
-7.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.42 $2.42
-7.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.02 $8.02
$6.86 $6.86
16.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.86 $9.86
$8.45 $8.45
16.69%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.15 $4.15
7.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$5.52 $5.52
3.62%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$4.65 $4.65
-12.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.58 $12.58
$14.33 $14.33
-12.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.19 $13.19
$14.88 $14.88
-11.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.71 $15.71
$19.34 $19.34
-18.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$5.17 $5.17
2.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.71 $1.71
54.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.41 $4.41
-17.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$4.51 $4.51
4.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.53 $2.53
13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.74 $2.74
-9.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.43 $2.43
-23.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.7 $2.7
-17.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61 $11.61
$15.19 $15.19
-23.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.33 $13.33
$16.42 $16.42
-18.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.35 $2.35
5.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.7 $3.7
-11.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.34 $3.34
-8.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.42 $1.42
41.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.24 $29.24
$25.42 $25.42
15.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.08 $1.08
13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K $31.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-1.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.91%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 $181
$188 $188
-3.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.7 $66.7
$63.7 $63.7
4.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$65.2 $65.2
8.21%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.29 $43.29
$76.7 $76.7
-43.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.85 $17.85
$14.93 $14.93
19.56%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,769 $1,769
$2,063 $2,063
-14.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1 $62.1
$64.3 $64.3
-3.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 $47.02
$52.4 $52.4
-10.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$95.2 $95.2
8.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$145 $145
1.94%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,020 $3,020
$2,378 $2,378
27.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 $1,375
$1,584 $1,584
-13.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,970 $4,970
$4,763 $4,763
4.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,956 $3,956
$2,815 $2,815
40.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,769 $9,769
$3,588 $3,588
172.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,306 $2,306
$2,490 $2,490
-7.38%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Dana Point, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,532 $7,532
$5,275 $5,275
42.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dana Point, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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