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

🙂 Solo nomad: Ojai, CA is 24.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ojai, CA is 25.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.85 $24.85
$20.82 $20.82
19.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 $50.9
$100 $100
-49.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.14 $10.14
$11.97 $11.97
-15.29%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$5.56 $5.56
-2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.11 $3.11
-21.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.42 $2.42
-29.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$6.86 $6.86
20.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.94 $8.94
$8.45 $8.45
5.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.04 $1.04
15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.15 $4.15
-7.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$5.52 $5.52
-12.32%
Eggs
$4.46 $4.46
$4.65 $4.65
-4.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.53 $12.53
$14.33 $14.33
-12.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$14.88 $14.88
-64.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 $10.88
$19.34 $19.34
-43.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$5.17 $5.17
9.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.9 $1.9
$1.71 $1.71
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.41 $4.41
-10.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.6 $5.6
$4.51 $4.51
24.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.53 $2.53
-47.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.74 $2.74
-0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.43 $2.43
-16.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.7 $2.7
-22.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.4 $9.4
$15.19 $15.19
-38.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.97 $14.97
$16.42 $16.42
-8.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.35 $2.35
-27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 $4.67
$3.7 $3.7
26.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.34 $3.34
17.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 $2
$1.42 $1.42
40.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.57 $31.57
$25.42 $25.42
24.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.08 $1.08
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-11.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 $199
$188 $188
5.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.6 $54.6
$63.7 $63.7
-14.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$65.2 $65.2
11.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.44 $43.44
$76.7 $76.7
-43.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.72 $13.72
$14.93 $14.93
-8.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,848 $1,848
$2,063 $2,063
-10.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.5K $39.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
0.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 $56.9
$64.3 $64.3
-11.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.86 $40.86
$52.4 $52.4
-22.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75 $75
$95.2 $95.2
-21.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 $154
$145 $145
6.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,378 $2,378
4.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,231 $2,231
$1,584 $1,584
40.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,669 $2,669
$4,763 $4,763
-43.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,264 $2,264
$2,815 $2,815
-19.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,779 $2,779
$3,588 $3,588
-22.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,525 $2,525
$2,490 $2,490
1.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ojai, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.6
1.36%

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

Last update for Ojai, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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