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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Fairfield, CA is 9.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.9% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Fairfield, CA is 2.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.77 $21.77
$20.82 $20.82
4.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 $79.8
$100 $100
-20.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 $12.22
$11.97 $11.97
2.09%
Cappuccino
$4.77 $4.77
$5.56 $5.56
-14.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.11 $3.11
-8.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.42 $2.42
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.43 $7.43
$6.86 $6.86
8.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.9 $6.9
$8.45 $8.45
-18.34%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.04 $1.04
16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.15 $4.15
-1.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$5.52 $5.52
-18.84%
Eggs
$5.22 $5.22
$4.65 $4.65
12.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.57 $13.57
$14.33 $14.33
-5.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.07 $11.07
$14.88 $14.88
-25.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.97 $17.97
$19.34 $19.34
-7.08%
Apples (1kg)
$7.85 $7.85
$5.17 $5.17
51.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.71 $1.71
62.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$4.41 $4.41
29.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.48 $7.48
$4.51 $4.51
65.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.53 $2.53
53.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.8 $3.8
$2.74 $2.74
38.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.43 $2.43
-11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.7 $2.7
-24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.12 $12.12
$15.19 $15.19
-20.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.74 $8.74
$16.42 $16.42
-46.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.35 $2.35
-26.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.7 $3.7
-28.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Fairfield, 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)
$88 $88
$74.1 $74.1
18.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.34 $3.34
-12.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.42 $1.42
32.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.36 $29.36
$25.42 $25.42
15.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.08 $1.08
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K $33.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
3.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
5.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 $227
$188 $188
20.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3 $50.3
$63.7 $63.7
-21.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74 $74
$65.2 $65.2
13.53%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$126 $126
$76.7 $76.7
63.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$74.8 $74.8
$13.03 $13.03
474.06%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 $13.73
$14.93 $14.93
-8.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,844 $1,844
$2,063 $2,063
-10.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K $20.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-48.44%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 $58.4
$64.3 $64.3
-9.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.8 $41.8
$52.4 $52.4
-20.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.1 $84.1
$95.2 $95.2
-11.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,476 $2,476
$2,378 $2,378
4.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,400 $2,400
$1,584 $1,584
51.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,356 $3,356
$4,763 $4,763
-29.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,687 $3,687
$2,815 $2,815
31.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,773 $3,773
$3,588 $3,588
5.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,675 $3,675
$2,490 $2,490
47.58%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,192 $5,192
$5,275 $5,275
-1.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.6
-1.21%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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