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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,717 per month in Modesto, CA vs $3,068 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,143 per month in Modesto, CA vs $4,648 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,569 per month in Modesto, CA vs $6,229 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Modesto, CA is about 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Modesto, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Modesto, CA by 103%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.23 $15.23

$20.17 $20.17

-24.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$99.5 $99.5

-18.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 $8.80

$12.23 $12.23

-28.05%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$5.60 $5.60

-2.86%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.12 $3.12

-13.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.43 $2.43

-34.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$6.93 $6.93

-28.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$8.20 $8.20

-16.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.08 $1.08

0.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.97 $3.97

-10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.58 $5.58

-40.86%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$4.47 $4.47

10.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$14.50 $14.50

-9.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$15.08 $15.08

-0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.67 $19.67

$19.34 $19.34

1.71%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.37 $5.37

16.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.76 $1.76

43.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.32 $4.32

15.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$4.41 $4.41

49.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.54 $2.54

35.04%

Onion (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.70 $2.70

67.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.49 $2.49

20.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.60 $2.60

8.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 $10.05

$14.80 $14.80

-32.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.18 $15.18

-2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.47 $2.47

-25.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.60 $3.60

-4.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.54 $2.54

-19.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.25 $39.25

$76.3 $76.3

-48.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.30 $3.30

5.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.38 $1.38

44.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.18 $30.18

$25.36 $25.36

19.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.09 $1.09

11.01%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$31.6K $31.6K

-13.46%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.48%

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

$292 $292

$186 $186

57.14%

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

$48.30 $48.30

$62.9 $62.9

-23.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$66.2 $66.2

-4.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.81 $41.81

$77.6 $77.6

-46.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.16 $13.16

13.15%

Cinema Ticket

$10.96 $10.96

$14.74 $14.74

-25.64%

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

$1,983 $1,983

$2,039 $2,039

-2.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K $25.7K

$39.9K $39.9K

-35.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.27 $49.27

$63.9 $63.9

-22.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.13 $39.13

$51.2 $51.2

-23.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$95.2 $95.2

-8.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$144 $144

-10.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 $1,424

$2,305 $2,305

-38.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 $1,271

$1,575 $1,575

-19.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,455 $2,455

$4,688 $4,688

-47.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,447 $2,447

$2,737 $2,737

-10.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,279 $3,279

$4,063 $4,063

-19.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,172 $3,172

$2,696 $2,696

17.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,119 $4,119

$5,019 $5,019

-17.94%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,424 in Modesto, CA versus $2,305 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.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Modesto, CA versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $463 in Modesto, CA vs $448 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,717 in Modesto, CA, $3,068 in Chicago, IL – roughly 13% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,075 per month in Modesto, CA and $4,602 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Modesto, CA and $99.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Modesto, CA, where all-in costs run around $2,717, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Modesto, CA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,717 in Modesto, CA to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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