Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Gatos, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Gatos, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,566 per month in Los Gatos, CA vs $3,117 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,905 per month in Los Gatos, CA vs $4,695 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,245 per month in Los Gatos, CA vs $6,273 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Los Gatos, CA costs about 46% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Los Gatos, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Los Gatos, CA by 234%, Chicago, IL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.03 $25.03

$19.92 $19.92

25.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$108 $108

$88.5 $88.5

22.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.94 $12.94

-7.50%

Cappuccino

$5.90 $5.90

$5.54 $5.54

6.50%

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

$3.04 $3.04

$2.74 $2.74

10.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.36 $2.36

2.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.12 $7.12

9.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.73 $8.73

-7.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.34 $1.34

-5.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.17 $4.17

0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.73 $5.73

-15.88%

Eggs

$6.56 $6.56

$4.89 $4.89

34.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.17 $23.17

$14.77 $14.77

56.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.66 $11.66

$14.85 $14.85

-21.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 $13.20

$19.61 $19.61

-32.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.41 $5.41

$5.57 $5.57

-2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.92 $1.92

17.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.17 $4.17

17.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.95 $5.95

$4.86 $4.86

22.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.84 $2.84

16.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.80 $2.80

11.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.20 $2.20

1.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.06 $3.06

-14.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.32 $7.32

$16.16 $16.16

-54.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 $11.77

$14.82 $14.82

-20.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.53 $2.53

-33.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.35 $3.35

-24.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.30 $3.30

-2.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.36 $1.36

74.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.31 $40.31

$25.12 $25.12

60.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.17 $1.17

25.64%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$36.0K $36.0K

-17.74%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.54%

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

$188 $188

$191 $191

-1.92%

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

$64.6 $64.6

$67.9 $67.9

-4.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 $62.8

$61.7 $61.7

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$145 $145

$63.5 $63.5

127.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$15.76 $15.76

$18.02 $18.02

-12.54%

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

$2,361 $2,361

$1,522 $1,522

55.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$31.3K $31.3K

-22.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$63.7 $63.7

-20.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 $40.37

$55.3 $55.3

-26.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$100 $100

-26.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 $59.6

$153 $153

-61.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,524 $3,524

$2,406 $2,406

46.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,147 $3,147

$1,653 $1,653

90.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$6,033 $6,033

$2,771 $2,771

117.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,463 $3,463

$4,031 $4,031

-14.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.38

-2.04%

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

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,524 in Los Gatos, CA versus $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Los Gatos, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $451 in Los Gatos, CA vs $464 in Chicago, IL – so Los Gatos, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Los Gatos, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA, $3,117 in Chicago, IL – roughly 46% apart. Los Gatos, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,849 per month in Los Gatos, CA and $4,676 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Los Gatos, CA and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Los Gatos, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,117 in Chicago, IL to $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Gatos, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.