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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Petaluma, CA is 4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Petaluma, CA is 6.7% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.62 $22.62
$20.82 $20.82
8.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3 $86.3
$100 $100
-13.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.21 $12.21
$11.97 $11.97
2.01%
Cappuccino
$4.8 $4.8
$5.56 $5.56
-13.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$3.11 $3.11
-3.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 $7.88
$6.86 $6.86
14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.36 $8.36
$8.45 $8.45
-1.07%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.04 $1.04
19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$4.72 $4.72
$4.15 $4.15
13.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$5.52 $5.52
-19.20%
Eggs
$5.39 $5.39
$4.65 $4.65
15.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$14.33 $14.33
13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.55 $12.55
$14.88 $14.88
-15.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.97 $17.97
$19.34 $19.34
-7.08%
Apples (1kg)
$8 $8
$5.17 $5.17
54.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.71 $1.71
67.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.97 $7.97
$4.41 $4.41
80.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.24 $8.24
$4.51 $4.51
82.71%
Potato (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$2.53 $2.53
60.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$2.74 $2.74
41.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.43 $2.43
-9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.7 $2.7
-16.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.01 $12.01
$15.19 $15.19
-20.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.84 $11.84
$16.42 $16.42
-27.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.1 $4.1
$3.7 $3.7
10.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Petaluma, 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)
$65.5 $65.5
$74.1 $74.1
-11.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.34 $3.34
6.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.9 $1.9
$1.42 $1.42
33.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.61 $28.61
$25.42 $25.42
12.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-25.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.79%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 $276
$188 $188
46.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50 $50
$63.7 $63.7
-21.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8 $74.8
$65.2 $65.2
14.66%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.08 $43.08
$76.7 $76.7
-43.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.12 $14.12
$14.93 $14.93
-5.43%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,893 $1,893
$2,063 $2,063
-8.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.3K $37.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-4.86%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 $58.4
$64.3 $64.3
-9.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2 $60.2
$52.4 $52.4
14.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.8 $92.8
$95.2 $95.2
-2.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 $125
$145 $145
-13.54%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$2,378 $2,378
-32.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,376 $1,376
$1,584 $1,584
-13.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,050 $3,050
$4,763 $4,763
-35.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,218 $2,218
$2,815 $2,815
-21.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,924 $2,924
$3,588 $3,588
-18.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,300 $2,300
$2,490 $2,490
-7.66%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Petaluma, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,987 $2,987
$5,275 $5,275
-43.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Petaluma, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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