Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardino, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardino, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: San Bernardino, CA is 5.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Bernardino, CA is 4.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.98 $19.98

$20.82 $20.82

-4.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79 $79

$100 $100

-21.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.98 $14.98

$11.97 $11.97

25.15%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$5.56 $5.56

-4.14%

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

$3.51 $3.51

$3.11 $3.11

12.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.42 $2.42

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.83 $6.83

$6.86 $6.86

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.45 $8.45

-4.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.04 $1.04

1.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.15 $4.15

-1.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.52 $5.52

-26.81%

Eggs

$6.06 $6.06

$4.65 $4.65

30.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$14.33 $14.33

-25.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$14.88 $14.88

-12.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$19.34 $19.34

-23.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.4 $3.4

$5.17 $5.17

-34.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.71 $1.71

-2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.41 $4.41

-6.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$4.51 $4.51

21.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.53 $2.53

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.74 $2.74

6.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.43 $2.43

-40.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.7 $2.7

-19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.18 $11.18

$15.19 $15.19

-26.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 $8.94

$16.42 $16.42

-45.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.35 $2.35

-14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.7 $5.7

$3.7 $3.7

54.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.1 $58.1

$74.1 $74.1

-21.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.34 $3.34

51.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.42 $1.42

197.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.48 $29.48

$25.42 $25.42

15.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.08 $1.08

15.74%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-21.62%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.03%

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

$253 $253

$188 $188

34.20%

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

$54.6 $54.6

$63.7 $63.7

-14.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 $59.6

$65.2 $65.2

-8.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$76.7 $76.7

-48.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.96 $13.96

$14.93 $14.93

-6.50%

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

$1,154 $1,154

$2,063 $2,063

-44.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,969 $9,969

$39.2K $39.2K

-74.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$64.3 $64.3

-14.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.74 $34.74

$52.4 $52.4

-33.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

9.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$145 $145

-28.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 $1,918

$2,378 $2,378

-19.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$1,584 $1,584

6.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,532 $2,532

$4,763 $4,763

-46.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,735 $2,735

$2,815 $2,815

-2.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,625 $3,625

$3,588 $3,588

1.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,574 $3,574

$2,490 $2,490

43.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,802 $3,802

$5,275 $5,275

-27.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for San Bernardino, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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