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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Fremont, CA is 5.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.9% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Fremont, CA is 4.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.45 $20.45
$20.82 $20.82
-1.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$100 $100
-19.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.34 $12.34
$11.97 $11.97
3.09%
Cappuccino
$5.86 $5.86
$5.56 $5.56
5.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.11 $3.11
2.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.42 $2.42
-0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.54 $7.54
$6.86 $6.86
9.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.24 $8.24
$8.45 $8.45
-2.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.04 $1.04
36.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.78 $4.78
$4.15 $4.15
15.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$5.52 $5.52
-42.75%
Eggs
$7.61 $7.61
$4.65 $4.65
63.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.87 $20.87
$14.33 $14.33
45.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.5 $15.5
$14.88 $14.88
4.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.36 $23.36
$19.34 $19.34
20.79%
Apples (1kg)
$6.03 $6.03
$5.17 $5.17
16.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.71 $1.71
15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.41 $4.41
-10.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$4.51 $4.51
16.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.53 $2.53
-9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.74 $2.74
19.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.43 $2.43
26.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.7 $2.7
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.42 $11.42
$15.19 $15.19
-24.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$16.42 $16.42
-7.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.35 $2.35
-11.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.7 $3.7
-27.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.36 $5.36
$2.53 $2.53
111.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.3 $82.3
$74.1 $74.1
11.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.34 $3.34
2.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.9 $1.9
$1.42 $1.42
33.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.7 $29.7
$25.42 $25.42
16.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.08 $1.08
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 $306
$188 $188
62.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.44 $47.44
$63.7 $63.7
-25.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68 $68
$65.2 $65.2
4.29%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.58 $36.58
$76.7 $76.7
-52.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.13 $8.13
$13.03 $13.03
-37.61%
Cinema Ticket
$14.73 $14.73
$14.93 $14.93
-1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,583 $1,583
$2,063 $2,063
-23.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26K $26K
$39.2K $39.2K
-33.66%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.03 $45.03
$64.3 $64.3
-29.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.84 $43.84
$52.4 $52.4
-16.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 $80.9
$95.2 $95.2
-15.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,339 $2,339
$2,378 $2,378
-1.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,209 $2,209
$1,584 $1,584
39.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,034 $4,034
$4,763 $4,763
-15.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,764 $3,764
$2,815 $2,815
33.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,343 $6,343
$3,588 $3,588
76.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,825 $4,825
$2,490 $2,490
93.76%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Fremont, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,820 $7,820
$5,275 $5,275
48.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Fremont, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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