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

🙂 Solo nomad: Modesto, CA is 25.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Modesto, CA is 9.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.75 $14.75

$20.82 $20.82

-29.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$100 $100

-18.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 $8.98

$11.97 $11.97

-24.98%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$5.56 $5.56

-3.06%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.11 $3.11

-15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.42 $2.42

-34.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.86 $6.86

-25.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$8.45 $8.45

-17.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.04 $1.04

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.15 $4.15

-14.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$5.52 $5.52

-40.76%

Eggs

$4.98 $4.98

$4.65 $4.65

7.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 $13.03

$14.33 $14.33

-9.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$14.88 $14.88

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.92 $18.92

$19.34 $19.34

-2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.17 $5.17

19.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.71 $1.71

46.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$4.41 $4.41

13.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.71 $6.71

$4.51 $4.51

48.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.53 $2.53

37.15%

Onion (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.74 $2.74

57.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.43 $2.43

27.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.7 $2.7

6.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 $9.94

$15.19 $15.19

-34.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.42 $16.42

-9.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.35 $2.35

-21.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.7 $3.7

-7.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.74 $40.74

$74.1 $74.1

-45.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.34 $3.34

2.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2 $2

$1.42 $1.42

40.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.69 $29.69

$25.42 $25.42

16.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.08 $1.08

12.04%

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

$27K $27K

$32.4K $32.4K

-16.80%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.55%

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

$299 $299

$188 $188

58.65%

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

$49.27 $49.27

$63.7 $63.7

-22.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 $64.1

$65.2 $65.2

-1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.16 $42.16

$76.7 $76.7

-45.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.21 $15.21

$13.03 $13.03

16.73%

Cinema Ticket

$10.89 $10.89

$14.93 $14.93

-27.06%

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

$1,952 $1,952

$2,063 $2,063

-5.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.1K $26.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-33.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.04 $48.04

$64.3 $64.3

-25.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.95 $39.95

$52.4 $52.4

-23.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$95.2 $95.2

-9.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$145 $145

-11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,423 $1,423

$2,378 $2,378

-40.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 $1,297

$1,584 $1,584

-18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 $2,469

$4,763 $4,763

-48.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,390 $2,390

$2,815 $2,815

-15.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,270 $3,270

$3,588 $3,588

-8.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,927 $2,927

$2,490 $2,490

17.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,080 $4,080

$5,275 $5,275

-22.66%

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 Modesto, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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