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

🙂 Solo nomad: Salinas, CA is 2.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Salinas, CA is 4.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.69 $29.69

$20.82 $20.82

42.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.1 $89.1

$100 $100

-11.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.97 $11.97

0.58%

Cappuccino

$4.9 $4.9

$5.56 $5.56

-11.87%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$3.11 $3.11

-14.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.42 $2.42

-11.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 $7.86

$6.86 $6.86

14.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.45 $8.45

-7.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.04 $1.04

40.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.15 $4.15

-14.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$5.52 $5.52

15.22%

Eggs

$5.55 $5.55

$4.65 $4.65

19.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21 $21

$14.33 $14.33

46.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.88 $14.88

-11.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.74 $16.74

$19.34 $19.34

-13.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$5.17 $5.17

16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.71 $1.71

26.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.41 $4.41

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.51 $4.51

34.37%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.53 $2.53

76.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.74 $2.74

23.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.43 $2.43

-10.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.7 $2.7

-30.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.09 $11.09

$15.19 $15.19

-26.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 $10.18

$16.42 $16.42

-38.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.7 $3.7

44.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 $68.8

$74.1 $74.1

-7.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.34 $3.34

3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.42 $1.42

32.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.24 $40.24

$25.42 $25.42

58.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.08 $1.08

21.30%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-25.46%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.28%

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

$277 $277

$188 $188

47.39%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$63.7 $63.7

-16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$65.2 $65.2

11.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.6 $39.6

$76.7 $76.7

-48.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.31 $14.31

$14.93 $14.93

-4.15%

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

$1,968 $1,968

$2,063 $2,063

-4.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.3K $38.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-2.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 $56.1

$64.3 $64.3

-12.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.8 $37.8

$52.4 $52.4

-27.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 $92.3

$95.2 $95.2

-3.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$145 $145

-12.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$2,378 $2,378

-7.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,164 $2,164

$1,584 $1,584

36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,186 $4,186

$4,763 $4,763

-12.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,806 $3,806

$2,815 $2,815

35.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,778 $2,778

$3,588 $3,588

-22.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,415 $2,415

$2,490 $2,490

-3.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,905 $4,905

$5,275 $5,275

-7.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.41

6.6

-2.88%

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

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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