Cost of Living Comparison Between Mission Viejo, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Mission Viejo, CA and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Mission Viejo, CA is 29.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Mission Viejo, CA is 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.12 $19.12
$20.82 $20.82
-8.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.4 $56.4
$100 $100
-43.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.82 $10.82
$11.97 $11.97
-9.61%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.56 $5.56
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.11 $3.11
-19.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.42 $2.42
-14.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$6.86 $6.86
-14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 $6.79
$8.45 $8.45
-19.64%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.04 $1.04
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$4.15 $4.15
-14.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$5.52 $5.52
-20.47%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$4.65 $4.65
-10.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.17 $12.17
$14.33 $14.33
-15.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.28 $11.28
$14.88 $14.88
-24.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.63 $15.63
$19.34 $19.34
-19.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$5.17 $5.17
-4.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.71 $1.71
-5.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.41 $4.41
-5.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$4.51 $4.51
5.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.53 $2.53
9.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.74 $2.74
0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.43 $2.43
-14.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.54 $9.54
$15.19 $15.19
-37.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.15 $14.15
$16.42 $16.42
-13.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.7 $3.7
-10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$3.34 $3.34
3.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.76 $28.76
$25.42 $25.42
13.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.08 $1.08
31.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$63.7 $63.7
-16.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$65.2 $65.2
5.05%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.73 $42.73
$76.7 $76.7
-44.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.24 $13.24
$14.93 $14.93
-11.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,281 $1,281
$2,063 $2,063
-37.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.01%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 $50.9
$64.3 $64.3
-20.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.45 $40.45
$52.4 $52.4
-22.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 $85.5
$95.2 $95.2
-10.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,602 $2,602
$2,378 $2,378
9.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,327 $1,327
$1,584 $1,584
-16.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,671 $2,671
$4,763 $4,763
-43.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,998 $2,998
$2,815 $2,815
6.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,813 $2,813
$3,588 $3,588
-21.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,405 $2,405
$2,490 $2,490
-3.42%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Mission Viejo, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
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 Mission Viejo, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.