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

🙂 Solo nomad: El Centro, CA is 14.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: El Centro, CA is 29.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.07 $12.07

$20.82 $20.82

-42.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.7 $39.7

$100 $100

-60.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.97 $11.97

25.98%

Cappuccino

$4.11 $4.11

$5.56 $5.56

-26.08%

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

$2.06 $2.06

$3.11 $3.11

-33.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 $3.06

$6.86 $6.86

-55.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.45 $8.45

-16.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.04 $1.04

6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.15 $4.15

3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.52 $5.52

-12.68%

Eggs

$3.82 $3.82

$4.65 $4.65

-17.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.19 $12.19

$14.33 $14.33

-14.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.91 $15.91

$14.88 $14.88

6.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.72 $15.72

$19.34 $19.34

-18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.4 $4.4

$5.17 $5.17

-14.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.71 $1.71

1.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.41 $4.41

19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.51 $4.51

26.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.53 $2.53

28.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.74 $2.74

7.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.43 $2.43

-13.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.7 $2.7

-22.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 $10.87

$15.19 $15.19

-28.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.34 $13.34

$16.42 $16.42

-18.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.35 $2.35

-18.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.7 $3.7

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.34 $3.34

95.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.42 $1.42

90.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.79 $28.79

$25.42 $25.42

13.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.08 $1.08

18.52%

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

$26K $26K

$32.4K $32.4K

-19.88%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

12.24%

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

$158 $158

$188 $188

-15.93%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$63.7 $63.7

-16.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 $57.9

$65.2 $65.2

-11.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.58 $42.58

$76.7 $76.7

-44.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$14.93 $14.93

0.74%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$2,063 $2,063

-27.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.75 $46.75

$64.3 $64.3

-27.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.77 $33.77

$52.4 $52.4

-35.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

8.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$145 $145

-29.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$2,378 $2,378

-31.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 $1,369

$1,584 $1,584

-13.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,629 $2,629

$4,763 $4,763

-44.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,232 $2,232

$2,815 $2,815

-20.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,434 $2,434

$3,588 $3,588

-32.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 $2,662

$2,490 $2,490

6.90%

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 El Centro, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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