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

🙂 Solo nomad: Escondido, CA is 25.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Escondido, CA is 24.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71 $17.71
$20.82 $20.82
-14.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6 $81.6
$100 $100
-18.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.78 $14.78
$11.97 $11.97
23.48%
Cappuccino
$4.91 $4.91
$5.56 $5.56
-11.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.11 $3.11
-21.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.42 $2.42
-15.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.04 $6.04
$6.86 $6.86
-11.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 $7.07
$8.45 $8.45
-16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 $3.35
$4.15 $4.15
-19.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$5.52 $5.52
-21.74%
Eggs
$3.32 $3.32
$4.65 $4.65
-28.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 $8.92
$14.33 $14.33
-37.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 $6.56
$14.88 $14.88
-55.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.66 $15.66
$19.34 $19.34
-19.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$5.17 $5.17
-38.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.71 $1.71
1.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$4.41 $4.41
-65.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$4.51 $4.51
-55.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.53 $2.53
-11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.74 $2.74
-20.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.43 $2.43
-16.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.7 $2.7
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.2 $11.2
$15.19 $15.19
-26.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.94 $4.94
$16.42 $16.42
-69.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.35 $2.35
-40.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.7 $3.7
-7.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
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)
$6.43 $6.43
$3.34 $3.34
92.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.56 $29.56
$25.42 $25.42
16.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.08 $1.08
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-21.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$188 $188
-15.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$63.7 $63.7
-16.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.1 $55.1
$65.2 $65.2
-15.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.66 $35.66
$76.7 $76.7
-53.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.81 $14.81
$14.93 $14.93
-0.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,530 $1,530
$2,063 $2,063
-25.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.75 $47.75
$64.3 $64.3
-25.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.37 $34.37
$52.4 $52.4
-34.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 $79.4
$95.2 $95.2
-16.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1 $99.1
$145 $145
-31.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 $2,670
$2,378 $2,378
12.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,463 $2,463
$1,584 $1,584
55.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,598 $2,598
$4,763 $4,763
-45.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,687 $2,687
$2,815 $2,815
-4.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,414 $7,414
$3,588 $3,588
106.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,450 $7,450
$2,490 $2,490
199.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Escondido, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,974 $6,974
$5,275 $5,275
32.22%
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 Escondido, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.