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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Lancaster, CA is 7.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Lancaster, CA is 27.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.31 $18.31
$20.82 $20.82
-12.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$100 $100
-19.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.97 $18.97
$11.97 $11.97
58.48%
Cappuccino
$5.73 $5.73
$5.56 $5.56
3.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.11 $3.11
-28.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.42 $2.42
5.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.52 $6.52
$6.86 $6.86
-4.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83 $7.83
$8.45 $8.45
-7.34%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.04 $1.04
36.54%
White Bread (500g)
$5.58 $5.58
$4.15 $4.15
34.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$5.52 $5.52
-60.69%
Eggs
$2.66 $2.66
$4.65 $4.65
-42.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 $9.99
$14.33 $14.33
-30.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.31 $13.31
$14.88 $14.88
-10.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.48 $9.48
$19.34 $19.34
-50.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$5.17 $5.17
-28.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$4.41 $4.41
-49.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 $0.98
$4.51 $4.51
-78.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.53 $2.53
-61.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$2.74 $2.74
-43.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.43 $2.43
9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.7 $2.7
11.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 $11.12
$15.19 $15.19
-26.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.98 $10.98
$16.42 $16.42
-33.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.7 $3.7
-47.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.53 $2.53
-39.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.6 $50.6
$74.1 $74.1
-31.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.34 $3.34
6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.42 $1.42
12.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.87 $28.87
$25.42 $25.42
13.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.08 $1.08
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 $227
$188 $188
20.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.94 $42.94
$63.7 $63.7
-32.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.1 $89.1
$65.2 $65.2
36.66%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.77 $40.77
$76.7 $76.7
-46.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.11 $7.11
$13.03 $13.03
-45.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.83 $14.83
$14.93 $14.93
-0.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,286 $1,286
$2,063 $2,063
-37.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.72%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$64.3 $64.3
-19.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 $50.4
$52.4 $52.4
-3.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 $76.1
$95.2 $95.2
-20.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9 $85.9
$145 $145
-40.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,320 $2,320
$2,378 $2,378
-2.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,478 $1,478
$1,584 $1,584
-6.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,486 $2,486
$4,763 $4,763
-47.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,543 $2,543
$2,815 $2,815
-9.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,205 $3,205
$3,588 $3,588
-10.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,490 $2,490
10.93%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Lancaster, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,086 $4,086
$5,275 $5,275
-22.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for Lancaster, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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