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

🙂 Solo nomad: Monterey, CA is 20.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Monterey, CA is 7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 $16.22

$20.82 $20.82

-22.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$100 $100

-35.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.45 $9.45

$11.97 $11.97

-21.05%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$5.56 $5.56

-19.42%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$3.11 $3.11

1.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.42 $2.42

-32.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$6.86 $6.86

-14.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$8.45 $8.45

-47.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.15 $4.15

-17.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.52 $5.52

-20.83%

Eggs

$4 $4

$4.65 $4.65

-13.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 $9.38

$14.33 $14.33

-34.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.66 $17.66

$14.88 $14.88

18.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 $14.04

$19.34 $19.34

-27.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$5.17 $5.17

-25.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.71 $1.71

-32.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.41 $4.41

-44.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$4.51 $4.51

-50.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.53 $2.53

-24.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.74 $2.74

-18.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.43 $2.43

-24.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.7 $2.7

-28.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.16 $12.16

$15.19 $15.19

-19.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.28 $17.28

$16.42 $16.42

5.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.35 $2.35

-6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.7 $3.7

-34.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53 $53

$74.1 $74.1

-28.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.34 $3.34

-52.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.42 $1.42

-37.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.75 $28.75

$25.42 $25.42

13.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.08 $1.08

12.96%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-25.32%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.72%

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

$188 $188

-0.31%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$63.7 $63.7

-18.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$65.2 $65.2

-5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.27 $43.27

$76.7 $76.7

-43.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.52 $10.52

$13.03 $13.03

-19.26%

Cinema Ticket

$12.3 $12.3

$14.93 $14.93

-17.62%

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

$570 $570

$2,063 $2,063

-72.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-67.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 $68.4

$64.3 $64.3

6.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$119 $119

$52.4 $52.4

126.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 $98.5

$95.2 $95.2

3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 $202

$145 $145

39.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 $2,323

$2,378 $2,378

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 $2,004

$1,584 $1,584

26.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,623 $3,623

$4,763 $4,763

-23.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,815 $2,815

30.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,809 $7,809

$3,588 $3,588

117.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,920 $5,920

$2,490 $2,490

137.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,380 $4,380

$5,275 $5,275

-16.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.6

-3.03%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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