Cost of Living Comparison Between Menlo Park, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Menlo Park, CA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Menlo Park, CA is 2.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Menlo Park, CA is 16.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 57% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.12 $30.12
$20.82 $20.82
44.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6 $89.6
$100 $100
-10.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$11.97 $11.97
0.75%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$5.56 $5.56
-14.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$3.11 $3.11
-14.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.42 $2.42
-43.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.86 $6.86
18.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95 $7.95
$8.45 $8.45
-5.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.04 $1.04
36.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.81 $4.81
$4.15 $4.15
15.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$5.52 $5.52
-42.75%
Eggs
$6.82 $6.82
$4.65 $4.65
46.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.96 $10.96
$14.33 $14.33
-23.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$14.88 $14.88
-24.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$19.34 $19.34
-34.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$5.17 $5.17
-8.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.71 $1.71
25.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.41 $4.41
-2.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.8 $4.8
$4.51 $4.51
6.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.53 $2.53
15.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.74 $2.74
27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.43 $2.43
-9.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.7 $2.7
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.67 $8.67
$15.19 $15.19
-42.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.93 $11.93
$16.42 $16.42
-27.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.7 $3.7
-36.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.53 $2.53
74.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.34 $3.34
2.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.42 $1.42
37.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.94 $29.94
$25.42 $25.42
17.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.08 $1.08
19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-26.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$245 $245
$188 $188
30.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.63 $39.63
$63.7 $63.7
-37.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$65.2 $65.2
11.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.14 $43.14
$76.7 $76.7
-43.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$14.93 $14.93
2.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,655 $2,655
$2,063 $2,063
28.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.2K $37.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-4.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$64.3 $64.3
-14.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$52.4 $52.4
-22.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90 $90
$95.2 $95.2
-5.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 $79.7
$145 $145
-44.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,224 $3,224
$2,378 $2,378
35.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,226 $2,226
$1,584 $1,584
40.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,146 $6,146
$4,763 $4,763
29.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,628 $6,628
$2,815 $2,815
135.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.9K $21.9K
$3,588 $3,588
509.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.4K $16.4K
$2,490 $2,490
559.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Menlo Park, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,947 $4,947
$5,275 $5,275
-6.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Menlo Park, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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