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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Ontario, CA is 14.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.2% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Ontario, CA is 12.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 $17.74
$20.82 $20.82
-14.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 $81.4
$100 $100
-18.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 $11.77
$11.97 $11.97
-1.67%
Cappuccino
$5.2 $5.2
$5.56 $5.56
-6.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.11 $3.11
-13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.42 $2.42
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.95 $6.95
$6.86 $6.86
1.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$8.45 $8.45
-16.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.04 $1.04
6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$4.15 $4.15
-4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$5.52 $5.52
-26.27%
Eggs
$3.89 $3.89
$4.65 $4.65
-16.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$14.33 $14.33
-25.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.51 $8.51
$14.88 $14.88
-42.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.39 $14.39
$19.34 $19.34
-25.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$5.17 $5.17
-31.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.71 $1.71
1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.41 $4.41
-6.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$4.51 $4.51
20.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.53 $2.53
29.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.74 $2.74
4.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 $1.44
$2.43 $2.43
-40.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.7 $2.7
-19.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22 $11.22
$15.19 $15.19
-26.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 $8.76
$16.42 $16.42
-46.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.35 $2.35
-17.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.7 $3.7
-8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.56 $6.56
$3.34 $3.34
96.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.42 $1.42
200.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.62 $29.62
$25.42 $25.42
16.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.08 $1.08
19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-21.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$26.2K $26.2K
10.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$254 $254
$188 $188
35.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.95 $45.95
$63.7 $63.7
-27.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6 $57.6
$65.2 $65.2
-11.72%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 $100
$76.7 $76.7
30.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.21 $14.21
$14.93 $14.93
-4.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,182 $1,182
$2,063 $2,063
-42.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.72%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.78 $46.78
$64.3 $64.3
-27.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 $33.43
$52.4 $52.4
-36.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 $83.7
$95.2 $95.2
-12.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 $84.3
$145 $145
-41.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 $1,888
$2,378 $2,378
-20.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 $1,340
$1,584 $1,584
-15.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,861 $2,861
$4,763 $4,763
-39.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,899 $2,899
$2,815 $2,815
2.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,118 $4,118
$3,588 $3,588
14.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,616 $3,616
$2,490 $2,490
45.21%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Ontario, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,657 $3,657
$5,275 $5,275
-30.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.6
-0.30%

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

Last update for Ontario, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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