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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Highland, CA is 12.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Highland, CA is 26.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.02 $18.02
$20.82 $20.82
-13.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$100 $100
-19.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$11.97 $11.97
0.42%
Cappuccino
$5.1 $5.1
$5.56 $5.56
-8.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.11 $3.11
-14.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.42 $2.42
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.2 $7.2
$6.86 $6.86
4.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 $6.92
$8.45 $8.45
-18.11%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.04 $1.04
6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.15 $4.15
-0.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.2 $4.2
$5.52 $5.52
-23.91%
Eggs
$3.88 $3.88
$4.65 $4.65
-16.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.77 $10.77
$14.33 $14.33
-24.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.57 $8.57
$14.88 $14.88
-42.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.37 $14.37
$19.34 $19.34
-25.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$5.17 $5.17
-33.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.71 $1.71
1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.1 $4.1
$4.41 $4.41
-7.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$4.51 $4.51
20.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.53 $2.53
30.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.74 $2.74
5.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.43 $2.43
-41.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.7 $2.7
-19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.92 $10.92
$15.19 $15.19
-28.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.23 $9.23
$16.42 $16.42
-43.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.35 $2.35
-14.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.7 $3.7
-3.51%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.72 $29.72
$74.1 $74.1
-59.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.46 $6.46
$3.34 $3.34
93.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.76 $28.76
$25.42 $25.42
13.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.08 $1.08
14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-26.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.59%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$188 $188
-17.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.33 $47.33
$63.7 $63.7
-25.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$65.2 $65.2
-9.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.74 $43.74
$76.7 $76.7
-42.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.75 $13.75
$14.93 $14.93
-7.90%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$2,063 $2,063
-40.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.67 $46.67
$64.3 $64.3
-27.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.5 $33.5
$52.4 $52.4
-36.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$95.2 $95.2
-10.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 $84.3
$145 $145
-41.75%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 $1,590
$2,378 $2,378
-33.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,351 $1,351
$1,584 $1,584
-14.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,593 $2,593
$4,763 $4,763
-45.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,223 $2,223
$2,815 $2,815
-21.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,180 $3,180
$3,588 $3,588
-11.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,217 $2,217
$2,490 $2,490
-10.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Highland, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.6
-0.30%

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

Last update for Highland, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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