Cost of Living Comparison Between Mountain View, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Mountain View, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Mountain View, CA is 6.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Mountain View, CA is 6.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$20.82 $20.82

-2.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

-0.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.97 $11.97

-16.88%

Cappuccino

$5.43 $5.43

$5.56 $5.56

-2.34%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.11 $3.11

-16.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.42 $2.42

3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.16 $7.16

$6.86 $6.86

4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.17 $10.17

$8.45 $8.45

20.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.04 $1.04

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.15 $4.15

7.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$5.52 $5.52

-40.94%

Eggs

$4.95 $4.95

$4.65 $4.65

6.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.86 $16.86

$14.33 $14.33

17.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.59 $15.59

$14.88 $14.88

4.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.8 $20.8

$19.34 $19.34

7.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.17 $5.17

17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.41 $4.41

-1.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.51 $4.51

18.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.53 $2.53

36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.74 $2.74

62.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.43 $2.43

-21.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.7 $2.7

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.93 $9.93

$15.19 $15.19

-34.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.06 $14.06

$16.42 $16.42

-14.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.35 $2.35

-7.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.7 $3.7

-30.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.53 $2.53

10.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 $89.8

$74.1 $74.1

21.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.34 $3.34

5.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.42 $1.42

80.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.42 $29.42

$25.42 $25.42

15.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.08 $1.08

17.59%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.14%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.31%

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

$278 $278

$188 $188

47.95%

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

$48.7 $48.7

$63.7 $63.7

-23.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$65.2 $65.2

0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 $55.6

$76.7 $76.7

-27.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 $11.76

$13.03 $13.03

-9.75%

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$14.93 $14.93

1.74%

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

$1,857 $1,857

$2,063 $2,063

-9.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.2K $26.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-33.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$64.3 $64.3

-17.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.76 $43.76

$52.4 $52.4

-16.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 $89.2

$95.2 $95.2

-6.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$145 $145

-3.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,757 $2,757

$2,378 $2,378

15.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,366 $2,366

$1,584 $1,584

49.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,193 $5,193

$4,763 $4,763

9.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,901 $4,901

$2,815 $2,815

74.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$3,588 $3,588

195.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.4K $10.4K

$2,490 $2,490

316.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,617 $9,617

$5,275 $5,275

82.32%

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 Mountain View, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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