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

🙂 Solo nomad: Fullerton, CA is 19.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Fullerton, CA is 0.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.6 $24.6

$20.82 $20.82

18.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.1 $84.1

$100 $100

-16.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.97 $11.97

-2.67%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$5.56 $5.56

1.62%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.11 $3.11

-12.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.42 $2.42

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 $7.28

$6.86 $6.86

6.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.32 $8.32

$8.45 $8.45

-1.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.2 $1.2

$1.04 $1.04

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.15 $4.15

-4.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.52 $5.52

-23.37%

Eggs

$4.63 $4.63

$4.65 $4.65

-0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 $11.17

$14.33 $14.33

-22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.54 $8.54

$14.88 $14.88

-42.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 $14.47

$19.34 $19.34

-25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.17 $5.17

-32.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.71 $1.71

7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.41 $4.41

-14.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.5 $5.5

$4.51 $4.51

21.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.2 $3.2

$2.53 $2.53

26.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.74 $2.74

15.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.5 $1.5

$2.43 $2.43

-38.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.7 $2.7

-19.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.11 $11.11

$15.19 $15.19

-26.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.76 $8.76

$16.42 $16.42

-46.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.7 $3.7

22.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.53 $2.53

-9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.4 $63.4

$74.1 $74.1

-14.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.34 $3.34

20.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.42 $1.42

15.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.02 $32.02

$25.42 $25.42

25.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.08 $1.08

15.74%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.54%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.88%

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

$203 $203

$188 $188

8.02%

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

$49.71 $49.71

$63.7 $63.7

-21.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$65.2 $65.2

0.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.44 $39.44

$76.7 $76.7

-48.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$14.93 $14.93

-5.76%

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

$1,388 $1,388

$2,063 $2,063

-32.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

2.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$64.3 $64.3

8.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.25 $35.25

$52.4 $52.4

-32.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$95.2 $95.2

-10.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$145 $145

-16.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,552 $2,552

$2,378 $2,378

7.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 $2,022

$1,584 $1,584

27.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,818 $3,818

$4,763 $4,763

-19.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,106 $4,106

$2,815 $2,815

45.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,383 $5,383

$3,588 $3,588

50.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,752 $2,752

$2,490 $2,490

10.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,826 $4,826

$5,275 $5,275

-8.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for Fullerton, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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