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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake Tahoe, CA is 18.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lake Tahoe, CA is 20.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.13 $19.13

$20.53 $20.53

-6.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$99.3 $99.3

-24.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.9 $10.9

$12.22 $12.22

-10.80%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$5.75 $5.75

-12.52%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$2.97 $2.97

-16.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.37 $2.37

-17.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.1 $6.1

$7.03 $7.03

-13.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 $6.79

$8.3 $8.3

-18.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.99 $3.99

-14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.48 $5.48

-22.63%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$4.71 $4.71

-14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$14.09 $14.09

-14.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 $11.48

$15.15 $15.15

-24.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 $15.68

$19.09 $19.09

-17.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.23 $5.23

-4.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.71 $1.71

-4.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.33 $4.33

-2.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.4 $4.4

9.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.43 $2.43

14.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.84 $2.84

1.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.38 $2.38

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.57 $2.57

-14.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$15.21 $15.21

-35.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.86 $13.86

$15.26 $15.26

-9.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.45 $2.45

-24.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.62 $3.62

-6.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.43 $2.43

-18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.4 $3.4

$3.19 $3.19

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.44 $1.44

14.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.52 $29.52

$24.54 $24.54

20.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.04 $1.04

-18.27%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$32K $32K

-5.79%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.10%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.16%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$62.7 $62.7

-16.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.1 $68.1

$66 $66

3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.79 $43.79

$75.1 $75.1

-41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 $13.72

$14.95 $14.95

-8.23%

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

$1,307 $1,307

$2,046 $2,046

-36.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23K $23K

$38.7K $38.7K

-40.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 $51.9

$64.9 $64.9

-19.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.26 $39.26

$52 $52

-24.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 $85.2

$95.6 $95.6

-10.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$143 $143

-22.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,632 $1,632

$2,330 $2,330

-29.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 $1,334

$1,591 $1,591

-16.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,668 $2,668

$4,654 $4,654

-42.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,195 $2,195

$2,777 $2,777

-20.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 $2,741

$3,674 $3,674

-25.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,409 $2,409

$2,686 $2,686

-10.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Lake Tahoe, CA: November 30, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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