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

🙂 Solo nomad: Davis, CA is 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Davis, CA is 3.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.78 $14.78
$20.82 $20.82
-29.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 $65.8
$100 $100
-34.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.82 $11.82
$11.97 $11.97
-1.25%
Cappuccino
$4.92 $4.92
$5.56 $5.56
-11.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.11 $3.11
6.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.42 $2.42
-1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.82 $7.82
$6.86 $6.86
13.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01 $8.01
$8.45 $8.45
-5.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.04 $1.04
21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$4.23 $4.23
$4.15 $4.15
1.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.52 $5.52
-39.49%
Eggs
$5.15 $5.15
$4.65 $4.65
10.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.27 $12.27
$14.33 $14.33
-14.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 $11.56
$14.88 $14.88
-22.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.03 $25.03
$19.34 $19.34
29.42%
Apples (1kg)
$4.7 $4.7
$5.17 $5.17
-9.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.71 $1.71
68.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$4.41 $4.41
35.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$4.51 $4.51
2.66%
Potato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$2.53 $2.53
54.94%
Onion (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.74 $2.74
27.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.43 $2.43
5.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 $3.53
$2.7 $2.7
30.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.04 $10.04
$15.19 $15.19
-33.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.22 $12.22
$16.42 $16.42
-25.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12 $8.12
$3.7 $3.7
119.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 $1.26
$2.53 $2.53
-50.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$3.34 $3.34
3.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.05 $29.05
$25.42 $25.42
14.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.08 $1.08
12.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-14.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K $24K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 $231
$188 $188
22.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$87 $87
$63.7 $63.7
36.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$65.2 $65.2
7.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 $56.6
$76.7 $76.7
-26.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.77 $11.77
$14.93 $14.93
-21.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,507 $1,507
$2,063 $2,063
-26.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50 $50
$64.3 $64.3
-22.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.38 $38.38
$52.4 $52.4
-26.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 $95.7
$95.2 $95.2
0.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$145 $145
-6.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,150 $2,150
$2,378 $2,378
-9.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,891 $1,891
$1,584 $1,584
19.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,413 $3,413
$4,763 $4,763
-28.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,119 $3,119
$2,815 $2,815
10.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,465 $3,465
$3,588 $3,588
-3.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,287 $3,287
$2,490 $2,490
31.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davis, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,901 $4,901
$5,275 $5,275
-7.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

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

Last update for Davis, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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