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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Pleasanton, CA is 1.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Pleasanton, CA is 5.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63 $19.63
$20.82 $20.82
-5.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81 $81
$100 $100
-19.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.86 $10.86
$11.97 $11.97
-9.27%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$5.56 $5.56
-8.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.11 $3.11
-14.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.42 $2.42
-26.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 $7.19
$6.86 $6.86
4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96 $7.96
$8.45 $8.45
-5.80%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.04 $1.04
37.50%
White Bread (500g)
$4.77 $4.77
$4.15 $4.15
14.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$10.2 $10.2
$5.52 $5.52
84.78%
Eggs
$4.8 $4.8
$4.65 $4.65
3.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.5 $11.5
$14.33 $14.33
-19.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.47 $19.47
$14.88 $14.88
30.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.44 $23.44
$19.34 $19.34
21.20%
Apples (1kg)
$8.59 $8.59
$5.17 $5.17
66.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.71 $1.71
48.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$4.41 $4.41
-11.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.76 $8.76
$4.51 $4.51
94.24%
Potato (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$2.53 $2.53
67.19%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.74 $2.74
59.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.43 $2.43
27.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.7 $2.7
-2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.15 $12.15
$15.19 $15.19
-20.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.7 $17.7
$16.42 $16.42
7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.35 $2.35
-12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41 $5.41
$3.7 $3.7
46.22%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60 $60
$74.1 $74.1
-19.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.34 $3.34
18.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.42 $1.42
35.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.5 $50.5
$25.42 $25.42
98.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.08 $1.08
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-21.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.93%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 $166
$188 $188
-11.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.21 $48.21
$63.7 $63.7
-24.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$94.3 $94.3
$65.2 $65.2
44.60%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.2 $72.2
$76.7 $76.7
-5.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.24 $18.24
$14.93 $14.93
22.17%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,076 $2,076
$2,063 $2,063
0.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K $35.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-9.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.67 $39.67
$64.3 $64.3
-38.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 $38.32
$52.4 $52.4
-26.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 $78.8
$95.2 $95.2
-17.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.45%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,761 $2,761
$2,378 $2,378
16.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,601 $2,601
$1,584 $1,584
64.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,188 $4,188
$4,763 $4,763
-12.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,930 $3,930
$2,815 $2,815
39.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,419 $9,419
$3,588 $3,588
162.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,717 $8,717
$2,490 $2,490
250.04%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Pleasanton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,757 $8,757
$5,275 $5,275
66.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
6.6
-1.82%

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

Last update for Pleasanton, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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