Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: El Cajon, CA is 11.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: El Cajon, CA is 8.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.68 $19.68

$20.82 $20.82

-5.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$100 $100

-20.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.97 $11.97

26.07%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.56 $5.56

-7.01%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$3.11 $3.11

-2.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.42 $2.42

5.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$6.86 $6.86

3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.45 $8.45

-4.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.04 $1.04

11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.3 $4.3

$4.15 $4.15

3.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.52 $5.52

-19.57%

Eggs

$3.9 $3.9

$4.65 $4.65

-16.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.55 $13.55

$14.33 $14.33

-5.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.95 $15.95

$14.88 $14.88

7.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.72 $15.72

$19.34 $19.34

-18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.17 $5.17

-14.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.41 $4.41

-11.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.51 $4.51

5.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.53 $2.53

21.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.74 $2.74

-13.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.43 $2.43

-13.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.7 $2.7

-12.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$15.19 $15.19

-20.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$16.42 $16.42

-6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.35 $2.35

-22.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.7 $3.7

-31.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.53 $2.53

-23.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.34 $3.34

-12.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.43 $28.43

$25.42 $25.42

11.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.08 $1.08

15.74%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-21.99%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

4.73%

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

$155 $155

$188 $188

-17.47%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$63.7 $63.7

-13.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$65.2 $65.2

9.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.44 $43.44

$76.7 $76.7

-43.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.93 $14.93

2.41%

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

$1,500 $1,500

$2,063 $2,063

-27.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.9K $28.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-26.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.79 $46.79

$64.3 $64.3

-27.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.14 $33.14

$52.4 $52.4

-36.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 $99.6

$95.2 $95.2

4.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$145 $145

-30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,428 $2,428

$2,378 $2,378

2.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 $1,939

$1,584 $1,584

22.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,953 $2,953

$4,763 $4,763

-38.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,029 $4,029

$2,815 $2,815

43.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,755 $2,755

$3,588 $3,588

-23.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,148 $2,148

$2,490 $2,490

-13.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,070 $4,070

$5,275 $5,275

-22.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.6

-3.18%

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

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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