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

🙂 Solo nomad: Encinitas, CA is 24.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Encinitas, CA is 21.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.82 $17.82

$20.82 $20.82

-14.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.9 $85.9

$100 $100

-14.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$11.97 $11.97

-0.33%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.56 $5.56

-10.25%

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

$2.02 $2.02

$3.11 $3.11

-35.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$2.42 $2.42

-58.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.02 $7.02

$6.86 $6.86

2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 $6.91

$8.45 $8.45

-18.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.04 $1.04

2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.15 $4.15

-0.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$5.52 $5.52

-24.64%

Eggs

$7.01 $7.01

$4.65 $4.65

50.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 $10.82

$14.33 $14.33

-24.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.81 $8.81

$14.88 $14.88

-40.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.55 $14.55

$19.34 $19.34

-24.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.17 $5.17

-34.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.71 $1.71

13.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.41 $4.41

-8.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.51 $4.51

25.72%

Potato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.53 $2.53

74.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.74 $2.74

17.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.43 $2.43

-40.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.7 $2.7

-21.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.86 $10.86

$15.19 $15.19

-28.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$16.42 $16.42

-46.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.35 $2.35

7.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 $5.81

$3.7 $3.7

57.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.53 $2.53

-2.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.1 $73.1

$74.1 $74.1

-1.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 $10.11

$3.34 $3.34

202.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.42 $1.42

16.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.85 $28.85

$25.42 $25.42

13.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.08 $1.08

14.81%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-25.58%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.92%

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

$100 $100

$188 $188

-46.88%

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

$47.1 $47.1

$63.7 $63.7

-26.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$65.2 $65.2

-8.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.3 $30.3

$76.7 $76.7

-60.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.76 $19.76

$13.03 $13.03

51.65%

Cinema Ticket

$14.03 $14.03

$14.93 $14.93

-6.03%

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

$1,184 $1,184

$2,063 $2,063

-42.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$64.3 $64.3

-11.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 $35.35

$52.4 $52.4

-32.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 $80.2

$95.2 $95.2

-15.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84 $84

$145 $145

-41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,207 $3,207

$2,378 $2,378

34.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,970 $1,970

$1,584 $1,584

24.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,531 $4,531

$4,763 $4,763

-4.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,094 $4,094

$2,815 $2,815

45.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K $10.2K

$3,588 $3,588

185.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,915 $6,915

$2,490 $2,490

177.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,343 $7,343

$5,275 $5,275

39.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for Encinitas, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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