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

🙂 Solo nomad: Oceanside, CA is 9.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Oceanside, CA is 15.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.47 $25.47
$20.82 $20.82
22.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 $78.6
$100 $100
-21.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.8 $12.8
$11.97 $11.97
6.93%
Cappuccino
$5.88 $5.88
$5.56 $5.56
5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 $2.9
$3.11 $3.11
-6.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.42 $2.42
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.53 $8.53
$6.86 $6.86
24.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.24 $8.24
$8.45 $8.45
-2.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.04 $1.04
18.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.15 $4.15
-10.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6 $6
$5.52 $5.52
8.70%
Eggs
$3.65 $3.65
$4.65 $4.65
-21.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.66 $12.66
$14.33 $14.33
-11.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.36 $10.36
$14.88 $14.88
-30.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.7 $19.7
$19.34 $19.34
1.86%
Apples (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.17 $5.17
-21.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.71 $1.71
-17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.41 $4.41
-17.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$4.51 $4.51
4.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.53 $2.53
18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.74 $2.74
-12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.43 $2.43
-23.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.7 $2.7
-20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.71 $11.71
$15.19 $15.19
-22.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 $14.82
$16.42 $16.42
-9.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.35 $2.35
-18.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 $1.24
$3.7 $3.7
-66.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.53 $2.53
0.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 $72.7
$74.1 $74.1
-1.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 $3.17
$3.34 $3.34
-5.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.42 $1.42
203.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.82 $28.82
$25.42 $25.42
13.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32K $32K
$32.4K $32.4K
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 $164
$188 $188
-12.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.75 $49.75
$63.7 $63.7
-21.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$65.2 $65.2
9.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.24 $40.24
$76.7 $76.7
-47.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.05 $14.05
$14.93 $14.93
-5.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,221 $1,221
$2,063 $2,063
-40.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.7K $19.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-49.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.02 $49.02
$64.3 $64.3
-23.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.72 $46.72
$52.4 $52.4
-10.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$95.2 $95.2
-16.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$145 $145
-3.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,800 $2,800
$2,378 $2,378
17.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,261 $2,261
$1,584 $1,584
42.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,414 $4,414
$4,763 $4,763
-7.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 $3,435
$2,815 $2,815
22.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,181 $6,181
$3,588 $3,588
72.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,113 $5,113
$2,490 $2,490
105.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oceanside, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,622 $4,622
$5,275 $5,275
-12.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

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

Last update for Oceanside, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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