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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,004 per month in Fairfield, CA vs $3,009 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,602 per month in Fairfield, CA vs $4,576 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,201 per month in Fairfield, CA vs $6,143 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fairfield, CA costs about 33% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Fairfield, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Fairfield, CA by 201%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.59 $21.59

$20.27 $20.27

6.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$101 $101

-20.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$12.04 $12.04

-1.08%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.76 $5.76

-17.01%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$2.97 $2.97

-3.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.38 $2.38

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.61 $7.61

$7.20 $7.20

5.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.05 $8.05

-14.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.09 $1.09

11.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.12 $4.12

-0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.29 $5.29

-18.34%

Eggs

$5.36 $5.36

$4.56 $4.56

17.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 $13.57

$14.45 $14.45

-6.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.12 $11.12

$14.79 $14.79

-24.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.57 $17.57

$19.56 $19.56

-10.17%

Apples (1kg)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.42 $5.42

48.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.71 $1.71

69.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.18 $4.18

39.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$4.59 $4.59

65.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.48 $2.48

55.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.72 $2.72

40.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.47 $2.47

-13.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.72 $2.72

-27.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$14.78 $14.78

-18.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$15.30 $15.30

-35.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.35 $2.35

-23.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.74 $3.74

-31.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.47 $2.47

-21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 $87.9

$74.0 $74.0

18.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.32 $3.32

-9.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.37 $1.37

32.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$24.65 $24.65

19.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.05 $1.05

28.57%

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

$34.2K $34.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

5.71%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

4.84%

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

$225 $225

$186 $186

20.81%

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

$50.8 $50.8

$62.6 $62.6

-18.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$67.5 $67.5

8.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$75.2 $75.2

65.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.9 $75.9

$13.38 $13.38

467.04%

Cinema Ticket

$14.17 $14.17

$15.10 $15.10

-6.16%

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

$1,900 $1,900

$2,023 $2,023

-6.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.4K $20.4K

$39.9K $39.9K

-48.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 $57.9

$64.2 $64.2

-9.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.75 $41.75

$51.2 $51.2

-18.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 $83.7

$96.2 $96.2

-12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$147 $147

-26.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,516 $2,516

$2,329 $2,329

8.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,403 $2,403

$1,570 $1,570

53.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,253 $3,253

$4,677 $4,677

-30.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,810 $2,810

30.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,662 $3,662

$4,082 $4,082

-10.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,768 $3,768

$2,645 $2,645

42.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$4,883 $4,883

0.15%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,516 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,329 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 0% higher in Fairfield, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Fairfield, CA versus $101 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $450 – making Fairfield, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $4,004 in Fairfield, CA, $3,009 in Chicago, IL – roughly 33% apart. Fairfield, CA costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,005 per month in Fairfield, CA and $4,513 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Fairfield, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Fairfield, CA and $101 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,004 in Fairfield, CA and $3,009 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL to $4,004 in Fairfield, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fairfield, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.