Cost of Living Comparison Between Grass Valley, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Grass Valley, CA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Grass Valley, CA is 6.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Grass Valley, CA is 0.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 $20.39
$20.82 $20.82
-2.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.4 $89.4
$100 $100
-10.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.8 $7.8
$11.97 $11.97
-34.84%
Cappuccino
$4.74 $4.74
$5.56 $5.56
-14.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.11 $3.11
-19.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.42 $2.42
-38.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.21 $8.21
$6.86 $6.86
19.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77 $7.77
$8.45 $8.45
-8.05%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.04 $1.04
33.65%
White Bread (500g)
$5.06 $5.06
$4.15 $4.15
21.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$5.52 $5.52
-59.24%
Eggs
$6.69 $6.69
$4.65 $4.65
43.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.38 $20.38
$14.33 $14.33
42.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.96 $14.96
$14.88 $14.88
0.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.76 $16.76
$19.34 $19.34
-13.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5.17 $5.17
-12.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.71 $1.71
32.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$4.41 $4.41
-48.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.3 $6.3
$4.51 $4.51
39.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.53 $2.53
-14.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.74 $2.74
21.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.43 $2.43
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.7 $2.7
9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 $10.05
$15.19 $15.19
-33.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.02 $16.02
$16.42 $16.42
-2.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 $4.07
$3.7 $3.7
10.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.34 $3.34
5.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.42 $1.42
45.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.38 $40.38
$25.42 $25.42
58.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.08 $1.08
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K $23.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.11%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 $276
$188 $188
46.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6 $53.6
$63.7 $63.7
-15.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1 $61.1
$65.2 $65.2
-6.35%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.4 $50.4
$76.7 $76.7
-34.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.2 $13.2
$14.93 $14.93
-11.59%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,714 $2,714
$2,063 $2,063
31.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-1.72%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.7 $35.7
$64.3 $64.3
-44.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.7 $34.7
$52.4 $52.4
-33.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 $90.3
$95.2 $95.2
-5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$145 $145
-12.30%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,779 $1,779
$2,378 $2,378
-25.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 $1,588
$1,584 $1,584
0.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,350 $2,350
$4,763 $4,763
-50.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 $1,569
$2,815 $2,815
-44.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,645 $3,645
$3,588 $3,588
1.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,003 $3,003
$2,490 $2,490
20.59%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Grass Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,970 $2,970
$5,275 $5,275
-43.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Grass Valley, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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