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

🙂 Solo nomad: Irvine, CA is 2.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Irvine, CA is 3.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.63 $24.63
$20.82 $20.82
18.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2 $98.2
$100 $100
-2.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.18 $10.18
$11.97 $11.97
-14.95%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.56 $5.56
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.11 $3.11
-14.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$6.86 $6.86
17.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.84 $8.84
$8.45 $8.45
4.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.04 $1.04
16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$5.73 $5.73
$4.15 $4.15
38.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$5.52 $5.52
-12.68%
Eggs
$4.63 $4.63
$4.65 $4.65
-0.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.53 $12.53
$14.33 $14.33
-12.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.37 $11.37
$14.88 $14.88
-23.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.3 $14.3
$19.34 $19.34
-26.06%
Apples (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$5.17 $5.17
20.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.71 $1.71
7.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.41 $4.41
-12.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$4.51 $4.51
23.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.53 $2.53
28.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.74 $2.74
8.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.43 $2.43
-14.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.7 $2.7
-21.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.49 $9.49
$15.19 $15.19
-37.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$16.42 $16.42
-8.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.7 $3.7
28.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.3 $70.3
$74.1 $74.1
-5.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.34 $3.34
18.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.42 $1.42
94.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.09 $32.09
$25.42 $25.42
26.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.08 $1.08
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-12.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 $205
$188 $188
8.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54 $54
$63.7 $63.7
-15.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.7 $72.7
$65.2 $65.2
11.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55 $55
$76.7 $76.7
-28.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.38 $13.38
$13.03 $13.03
2.69%
Cinema Ticket
$13.78 $13.78
$14.93 $14.93
-7.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,868 $1,868
$2,063 $2,063
-9.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.1K $40.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
2.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 $69.6
$64.3 $64.3
8.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54 $40.54
$52.4 $52.4
-22.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 $76.8
$95.2 $95.2
-19.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 $155
$145 $145
7.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,716 $2,716
$2,378 $2,378
14.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,333 $2,333
$1,584 $1,584
47.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,616 $4,616
$4,763 $4,763
-3.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,818 $3,818
$2,815 $2,815
35.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,450 $8,450
$3,588 $3,588
135.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,108 $8,108
$2,490 $2,490
225.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,963 $5,963
$5,275 $5,275
13.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.6
1.36%

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

Last update for Irvine, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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