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

🙂 Solo nomad: Downey, CA is 12.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Downey, CA is 22.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.96 $19.96

$20.82 $20.82

-4.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.3 $84.3

$100 $100

-15.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.67 $14.67

$11.97 $11.97

22.56%

Cappuccino

$5.3 $5.3

$5.56 $5.56

-4.68%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$3.11 $3.11

-14.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.42 $2.42

-16.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$6.86 $6.86

3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.2 $8.2

$8.45 $8.45

-2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.04 $1.04

2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.15 $4.15

-4.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$5.52 $5.52

-15.76%

Eggs

$4.87 $4.87

$4.65 $4.65

4.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.73 $10.73

$14.33 $14.33

-25.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.34 $13.34

$14.88 $14.88

-10.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 $14.56

$19.34 $19.34

-24.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$5.17 $5.17

-29.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.71 $1.71

-2.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.41 $4.41

-7.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.51 $4.51

25.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.53 $2.53

29.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.74 $2.74

16.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.43 $2.43

-39.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.7 $2.7

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.21 $11.21

$15.19 $15.19

-26.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 $9.15

$16.42 $16.42

-44.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.35 $2.35

-14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.7 $3.7

-2.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.53 $2.53

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 $6.78

$3.34 $3.34

102.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.42 $1.42

14.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.52 $29.52

$25.42 $25.42

16.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.08 $1.08

14.81%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.81%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.98%

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

$157 $157

$188 $188

-16.78%

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

$46.19 $46.19

$63.7 $63.7

-27.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61 $61

$65.2 $65.2

-6.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.87 $34.87

$76.7 $76.7

-54.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.18 $14.18

$14.93 $14.93

-5.02%

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

$1,212 $1,212

$2,063 $2,063

-41.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$64.3 $64.3

-11.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.88 $34.88

$52.4 $52.4

-33.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 $84.6

$95.2 $95.2

-11.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$145 $145

-29.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 $1,782

$2,378 $2,378

-25.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,711 $1,711

$1,584 $1,584

7.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 $3,637

$4,763 $4,763

-23.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,398 $3,398

$2,815 $2,815

20.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,801 $5,801

$3,588 $3,588

61.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,767 $5,767

$2,490 $2,490

131.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.6

0.61%

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

Last update for Downey, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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