Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,536 in Roseville, CA, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Roseville, CA, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Roseville, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,536
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Roseville, CA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Roseville, CA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,536 per month in Roseville, CA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Roseville, CA $3,536
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $5,057 per month in Roseville, CA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Roseville, CA $5,057
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $6,579 per month in Roseville, CA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Roseville, CA $6,579
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Roseville, CA costs about 16% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Roseville, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Roseville, CA by 160%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.68 $16.68
$20.71 $20.71
-19.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3 $86.3
$89.2 $89.2
-3.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.15 $12.15
$13.19 $13.19
-7.88%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$5.66 $5.66
3.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.64 $2.64
14.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.28 $2.28
0.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.87 $6.87
-0.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.51 $9.51
$8.84 $8.84
7.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.25 $1.25
6.40%
White Bread (500g)
$5.50 $5.50
$3.72 $3.72
47.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$10.91 $10.91
$5.39 $5.39
102.41%
Eggs
$6.38 $6.38
$4.74 $4.74
34.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.11 $14.11
$13.84 $13.84
1.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.41 $17.41
$14.40 $14.40
20.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.53 $17.53
$18.38 $18.38
-4.62%
Apples (1kg)
$6.19 $6.19
$5.22 $5.22
18.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.98 $1.98
-2.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$4.06 $4.06
22.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.27 $6.27
$4.97 $4.97
26.16%
Potato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$2.67 $2.67
57.68%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.66 $2.66
41.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.24 $2.24
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.13 $3.13
-10.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.69 $11.69
$13.82 $13.82
-15.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.24 $15.24
$14.88 $14.88
2.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.54 $2.54
-31.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 $6.01
$3.51 $3.51
71.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.43 $2.43
57.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.65 $37.65
$73.5 $73.5
-48.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.18 $3.18
61.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.39 $1.39
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.38 $30.38
$25.03 $25.03
21.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.20 $1.20
23.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K $23.7K
$35.0K $35.0K
-32.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K $21.1K
$26.7K $26.7K
-20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 $273
$194 $194
40.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.0 $62.0
$69.5 $69.5
-10.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.9 $65.9
$61.6 $61.6
6.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.5 $97.5
$47.90 $47.90
103.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.29 $38.29
$27.34 $27.34
40.05%
Cinema Ticket
$15.83 $15.83
$17.81 $17.81
-11.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,047 $1,047
$1,794 $1,794
-41.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.8K $24.8K
$31.9K $31.9K
-22.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0 $59.0
$67.0 $67.0
-11.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 $41.74
$52.1 $52.1
-19.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$102 $102
18.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 $163
$144 $144
13.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,973 $1,973
$2,526 $2,526
-21.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,931 $1,931
$1,578 $1,578
22.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,246 $3,246
$4,738 $4,738
-31.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 $3,046
$2,693 $2,693
13.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,723 $3,723
$4,190 $4,190
-11.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,610 $3,610
$2,768 $2,768
30.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roseville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,445 $5,445
$4,931 $4,931
10.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.81
-2.79%

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

Last update for Roseville, CA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Roseville, CA
$1.9K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 18.3% $353
Groceries & Markets
Roseville, CA
$529
Chicago, IL
$447 15.4% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseville, CA
$401
Chicago, IL
$326 18.8% $76
Eating Out
Roseville, CA
$315
Chicago, IL
$345 9.6% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Roseville, CA
$173
Chicago, IL
$164 5.2% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Roseville, CA
$129
Chicago, IL
$84 35.3% $46
Getting Around
Roseville, CA
$58 *
Chicago, IL
$93 60.7% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,973 in Roseville, CA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Roseville, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86 in Roseville, CA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $529 in Roseville, CA vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Roseville, CA
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
23:21 11:21 PM
01:21 1:21 AM
2 h ahead of Roseville, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
107,158
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Roseville, CA Chicago, IL 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Roseville, CA
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Roseville, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Roseville, CA and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,536 in Roseville, CA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Roseville, CA compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,303 per month in Roseville, CA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Roseville, CA and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Roseville, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,973 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Roseville, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86 in Roseville, CA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,536 in Roseville, CA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Roseville, CA and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,536 in Roseville, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Roseville, CA and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roseville, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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