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

😐 Solo nomad: Pasadena, CA is 9.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Pasadena, CA is 2.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.96 $17.96
$20.82 $20.82
-13.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3 $81.3
$100 $100
-18.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.4 $11.4
$11.97 $11.97
-4.76%
Cappuccino
$5.16 $5.16
$5.56 $5.56
-7.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.11 $3.11
-0.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 $2.9
$2.42 $2.42
19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.89 $9.89
$6.86 $6.86
44.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.89 $10.89
$8.45 $8.45
28.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.04 $1.04
22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.9 $4.9
$4.15 $4.15
18.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$5.52 $5.52
-46.56%
Eggs
$5.47 $5.47
$4.65 $4.65
17.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.71 $15.71
$14.33 $14.33
9.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.68 $18.68
$14.88 $14.88
25.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.27 $13.27
$19.34 $19.34
-31.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$5.17 $5.17
-31.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.71 $1.71
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$4.41 $4.41
-46.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.9 $5.9
$4.51 $4.51
30.82%
Potato (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$2.53 $2.53
113.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.74 $2.74
-12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.43 $2.43
-23.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.7 $2.7
-36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.41 $9.41
$15.19 $15.19
-38.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$16.42 $16.42
-8.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.35 $2.35
-16.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$3.7 $3.7
-54.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.53 $2.53
-37.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.6 $51.6
$74.1 $74.1
-30.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.34 $3.34
4.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 $29.48
$25.42 $25.42
15.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.08 $1.08
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K $22.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-15.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$259 $259
$188 $188
37.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.1 $50.1
$63.7 $63.7
-21.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 $71.9
$65.2 $65.2
10.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.34 $34.34
$76.7 $76.7
-55.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.31 $35.31
$13.03 $13.03
170.99%
Cinema Ticket
$18.8 $18.8
$14.93 $14.93
25.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,892 $3,892
$2,063 $2,063
88.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K $15.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-61.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8 $91.8
$64.3 $64.3
42.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28 $40.28
$52.4 $52.4
-23.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 $92.3
$95.2 $95.2
-3.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$221 $221
$145 $145
53.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,377 $3,377
$2,378 $2,378
42.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,719 $2,719
$1,584 $1,584
71.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,360 $5,360
$4,763 $4,763
12.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,324 $4,324
$2,815 $2,815
53.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,222 $9,222
$3,588 $3,588
157.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,586 $8,586
$2,490 $2,490
244.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pasadena, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,622 $5,622
$5,275 $5,275
6.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.27
6.6
-5.00%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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