Cost of Living Comparison Between Elk Grove, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Elk Grove, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Elk Grove, CA is 24% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Elk Grove, CA is 22.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.28 $19.28
$20.82 $20.82
-7.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74 $74
$100 $100
-26.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 $11.11
$11.97 $11.97
-7.18%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$5.56 $5.56
-9.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 $3.11
-17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$6.86 $6.86
-14.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 $6.85
$8.45 $8.45
-18.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.6 $3.6
$4.15 $4.15
-13.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.52 $5.52
-21.38%
Eggs
$4.31 $4.31
$4.65 $4.65
-7.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.11 $12.11
$14.33 $14.33
-15.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.4 $11.4
$14.88 $14.88
-23.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.14 $15.14
$19.34 $19.34
-21.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.9 $4.9
$5.17 $5.17
-5.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.41 $4.41
-2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.51 $4.51
2.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.53 $2.53
9.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.74 $2.74
1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.43 $2.43
-12.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.7 $2.7
-21.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$15.19 $15.19
-35.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.17 $20.17
$16.42 $16.42
22.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.7 $3.7
-11.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.34 $3.34
1.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.63 $28.63
$25.42 $25.42
12.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.08 $1.08
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 $53.5
$63.7 $63.7
-15.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$118 $118
$65.2 $65.2
81.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.22 $42.22
$76.7 $76.7
-44.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.61 $13.61
$14.93 $14.93
-8.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,293 $1,293
$2,063 $2,063
-37.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 $50.5
$64.3 $64.3
-21.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.99 $39.99
$52.4 $52.4
-23.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$95.2 $95.2
-8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,606 $1,606
$2,378 $2,378
-32.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 $1,331
$1,584 $1,584
-16.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 $2,603
$4,763 $4,763
-45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,237 $2,237
$2,815 $2,815
-20.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,036 $3,036
$3,588 $3,588
-15.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,790 $2,790
$2,490 $2,490
12.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elk Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Elk Grove, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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