Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake Forest, CA is 6.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lake Forest, CA is 2.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.57 $24.57

$20.82 $20.82

18.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

-0.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 $10.11

$11.97 $11.97

-15.54%

Cappuccino

$5.91 $5.91

$5.56 $5.56

6.29%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.11 $3.11

-12.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.42 $2.42

-7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.48 $8.48

$6.86 $6.86

23.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.45 $8.45

4.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.04 $1.04

19.23%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.15 $4.15

2.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.52 $5.52

-16.49%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.65 $4.65

-3.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$14.33 $14.33

-12.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$14.88 $14.88

14.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.22 $19.22

$19.34 $19.34

-0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$5.17 $5.17

26.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.9 $1.9

$1.71 $1.71

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.41 $4.41

-6.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.51 $4.51

20.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.53 $2.53

26.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.74 $2.74

12.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.43 $2.43

-21.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.7 $2.7

-21.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.75 $9.75

$15.19 $15.19

-35.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.65 $19.65

$16.42 $16.42

19.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.7 $3.7

5.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.53 $2.53

35.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.34 $3.34

-8.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.42 $1.42

88.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.53 $29.53

$25.42 $25.42

16.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.08 $1.08

19.44%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-12.16%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.11%

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

$202 $202

$188 $188

7.58%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$63.7 $63.7

-13.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$65.2 $65.2

10.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51 $51

$76.7 $76.7

-33.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$17.17 $17.17

$14.93 $14.93

15.00%

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

$1,823 $1,823

$2,063 $2,063

-11.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 $62.2

$64.3 $64.3

-3.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.13 $41.13

$52.4 $52.4

-21.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

8.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$145 $145

3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,433 $1,433

$2,378 $2,378

-39.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$1,584 $1,584

-5.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,096 $3,096

$4,763 $4,763

-34.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,805 $2,805

$2,815 $2,815

-0.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,100 $8,100

$3,588 $3,588

125.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,128 $7,128

$2,490 $2,490

186.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,899 $6,899

$5,275 $5,275

30.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

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

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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