Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Delano, CA: $2,645 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in Delano, CA
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Delano, CA Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Delano, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,645

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Delano, CA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Delano, CA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,645 per month in Delano, CA vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Delano, CA $2,645
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,850 per month in Delano, CA vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Delano, CA $3,850
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,055 per month in Delano, CA vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Delano, CA $5,055
Chicago, IL $6,019

Delano, CA is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Delano, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Delano, CA by 96%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.28 $19.28

$20.39 $20.39

-5.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$88.6 $88.6

-14.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$12.85 $12.85

-14.09%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$5.78 $5.78

-9.52%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$2.74 $2.74

-6.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.26 $2.26

-9.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$6.88 $6.88

-11.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 $7.14

$9.24 $9.24

-22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.26 $1.26

-18.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.55 $3.55

-3.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$5.38 $5.38

-21.56%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$4.55 $4.55

-9.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$13.65 $13.65

-8.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.64 $11.64

$14.07 $14.07

-17.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 $15.13

$18.06 $18.06

-16.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.16 $5.16

-3.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.98 $1.98

-17.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.88 $3.88

11.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.83 $4.83

-1.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.81 $2.81

-0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.67 $2.67

6.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.07 $2.07

-1.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.03 $3.03

-29.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.37 $9.37

$13.90 $13.90

-32.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.87 $13.87

$15.05 $15.05

-7.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.63 $2.63

-32.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.45 $3.45

-3.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.43 $2.43

-18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 $60.5

$75.3 $75.3

-19.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.17 $3.17

9.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.70 $1.70

-4.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$24.90 $24.90

18.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.28 $1.28

-31.25%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$35.8K $35.8K

-16.80%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.94%

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

$190 $190

$192 $192

-1.15%

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

$52.3 $52.3

$69.6 $69.6

-24.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$62.2 $62.2

10.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.16 $42.16

$47.79 $47.79

-11.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$13.68 $13.68

$17.83 $17.83

-23.28%

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

$1,278 $1,278

$1,815 $1,815

-29.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$40.6K $40.6K

-43.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$66.2 $66.2

-22.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 $40.15

$51.4 $51.4

-21.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 $88.1

$103 $103

-14.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$143 $143

-23.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$2,531 $2,531

-37.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,621 $1,621

-16.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,634 $2,634

$4,828 $4,828

-45.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$2,734 $2,734

-19.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 $2,731

$4,163 $4,163

-34.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,428 $2,428

$2,723 $2,723

-10.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.78

-3.98%

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

Last update for Delano, CA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Delano, CA

$1.4K 51.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 19.6% $266

Groceries & Markets

Delano, CA

$386 14.6%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 13.8% $53

Eating Out

Delano, CA

$313 11.9%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 9.8% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Delano, CA

$311 11.8%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 4.2% $13

Clothing & Footwear

Delano, CA

$130 4.9%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 25.6% $33

Getting Around

Delano, CA

$80 3%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 20.9% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Delano, CA

$70 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 20% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in Delano, CA versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Delano, CA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $439 – making Delano, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Delano, CA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

07:54 7:54 AM

09:54 9:54 AM

2 h ahead of Delano, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

53,819

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Delano, CA Chicago, IL 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Delano, CA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Delano, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,645 in Delano, CA, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Delano, CA comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,967 per month in Delano, CA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Delano, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,594 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Delano, CA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,645 in Delano, CA and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Delano, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Delano, CA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 14% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.