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

😐 Solo nomad: Sacramento, CA is 0.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Sacramento, CA is 4.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.74 $19.74

$20.82 $20.82

-5.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.8 $76.8

$100 $100

-23.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 $10.41

$11.97 $11.97

-13.03%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.56 $5.56

1.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.11 $3.11

-14.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.42 $2.42

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.86 $6.86

18.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.2 $8.2

$8.45 $8.45

-2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.04 $1.04

17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.15 $4.15

2.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.5 $5.5

$5.52 $5.52

-0.36%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$4.65 $4.65

-1.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 $15.63

$14.33 $14.33

9.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$14.88 $14.88

1.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$19.34 $19.34

-2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.17 $5.17

-0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.71 $1.71

18.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.41 $4.41

-5.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$4.51 $4.51

51.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.53 $2.53

48.62%

Onion (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.74 $2.74

70.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.43 $2.43

14.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.4 $2.4

$2.7 $2.7

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.54 $11.54

$15.19 $15.19

-24.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 $17.02

$16.42 $16.42

3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.35 $2.35

-10.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.7 $3.7

-20.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.53 $2.53

-0.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$74.1 $74.1

35.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.34 $3.34

21.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.42 $1.42

34.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.46 $27.46

$25.42 $25.42

8.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.08 $1.08

14.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K $30.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

8.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$333 $333

$188 $188

76.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.1 $59.1

$63.7 $63.7

-7.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.1 $74.1

$65.2 $65.2

13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.28 $44.28

$76.7 $76.7

-42.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.6 $30.6

$13.03 $13.03

134.84%

Cinema Ticket

$14.21 $14.21

$14.93 $14.93

-4.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$2,063 $2,063

-16.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K $27.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-28.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 $58.8

$64.3 $64.3

-8.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 $64.7

$52.4 $52.4

23.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 $93.1

$95.2 $95.2

-2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$145 $145

-11.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,082 $2,082

$2,378 $2,378

-12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 $1,692

$1,584 $1,584

6.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,525 $3,525

$4,763 $4,763

-25.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,894 $2,894

$2,815 $2,815

2.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,985 $4,985

$3,588 $3,588

38.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,001 $4,001

$2,490 $2,490

60.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,409 $4,409

$5,275 $5,275

-16.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

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

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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