Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,072 a month against $3,978 in Fairfield, CA, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

190

Cost of Living Index in Fairfield, CA
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Fairfield, CA Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Fairfield, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,978

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fairfield, CA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fairfield, CA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,978 per month in Fairfield, CA vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fairfield, CA $3,978
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $5,242 per month in Fairfield, CA vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fairfield, CA $5,242
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $6,507 per month in Fairfield, CA vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fairfield, CA $6,507
Chicago, IL $6,019

Fairfield, CA costs about 29% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Fairfield, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Fairfield, CA by 194%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.62 $21.62

$20.39 $20.39

6.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$88.6 $88.6

0.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.01 $12.01

$12.85 $12.85

-6.54%

Cappuccino

$6.94 $6.94

$5.78 $5.78

20.07%

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

$3.49 $3.49

$2.74 $2.74

27.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.26 $2.26

-10.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 $7.98

$6.88 $6.88

15.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$9.24 $9.24

-22.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.26 $1.26

11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.55 $3.55

24.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$5.38 $5.38

-13.01%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$4.55 $4.55

21.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$13.65 $13.65

3.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$14.07 $14.07

8.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.77 $17.77

$18.06 $18.06

-1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.16 $5.16

18.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.98 $1.98

30.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$3.88 $3.88

63.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$4.83 $4.83

36.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.81 $2.81

38.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.67 $2.67

32.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.07 $2.07

12.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.03 $3.03

-32.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.87 $11.87

$13.90 $13.90

-14.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 $10.18

$15.05 $15.05

-32.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.63 $2.63

-19.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.45 $3.45

-38.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.43 $2.43

-19.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.1 $87.1

$75.3 $75.3

15.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.17 $3.17

-6.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.70 $1.70

14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.14 $29.14

$24.90 $24.90

17.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.28 $1.28

11.72%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

-21.25%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.56%

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

$193 $193

$192 $192

0.34%

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

$48.25 $48.25

$69.6 $69.6

-30.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$62.2 $62.2

17.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$47.79 $47.79

162.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.7 $73.7

$27.10 $27.10

171.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.61 $14.61

$17.83 $17.83

-18.06%

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

$1,293 $1,293

$1,815 $1,815

-28.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$40.6K $40.6K

-45.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 $51.1

$66.2 $66.2

-22.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.08 $37.08

$51.4 $51.4

-27.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$103 $103

3.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$143 $143

-21.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,396 $2,396

$2,531 $2,531

-5.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,432 $2,432

$1,621 $1,621

50.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,100 $3,100

$4,828 $4,828

-35.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,967 $2,967

$2,734 $2,734

8.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,719 $3,719

$4,163 $4,163

-10.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,665 $3,665

$2,723 $2,723

34.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,749 $4,749

$4,924 $4,924

-3.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.78

-4.42%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CA: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Fairfield, CA

$2.4K 61.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 33.3% $811

Groceries & Markets

Fairfield, CA

$463 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 5.2% $24

Eating Out

Fairfield, CA

$369 9.3%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 6.7% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Fairfield, CA

$314 7.9%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 3.2% $10

Sport & Entertainment

Fairfield, CA

$155 3.9%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 46% $71

Clothing & Footwear

Fairfield, CA

$138 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 18.4% $25

Getting Around

Fairfield, CA

$108 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 10.2% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,396 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Fairfield, CA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $463 in Fairfield, CA vs $439 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Fairfield, CA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

13:08 1:08 PM

15:08 3:08 PM

2 h ahead of Fairfield, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

117,133

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Fairfield, CA Chicago, IL 2,940 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Fairfield, CA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fairfield, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,978 in Fairfield, CA, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 23% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,966 per month in Fairfield, CA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,396 in Fairfield, CA and $2,531 in Chicago, IL. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Chicago, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Fairfield, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,978 in Fairfield, CA and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,072 in Chicago, IL to $3,978 in Fairfield, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.