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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: San Clemente, CA is 4.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: San Clemente, CA is 8.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 $22.95
$20.82 $20.82
10.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
1.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.2 $15.2
$11.97 $11.97
26.98%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.56 $5.56
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.11 $3.11
-0.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.42 $2.42
5.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.95 $6.95
$6.86 $6.86
1.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.17 $8.17
$8.45 $8.45
-3.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.04 $1.04
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.15 $4.15
3.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$5.52 $5.52
-18.84%
Eggs
$3.9 $3.9
$4.65 $4.65
-16.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.46 $13.46
$14.33 $14.33
-6.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.84 $12.84
$14.88 $14.88
-13.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.64 $18.64
$19.34 $19.34
-3.62%
Apples (1kg)
$4.8 $4.8
$5.17 $5.17
-7.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 $1.71
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.1 $4.1
$4.41 $4.41
-7.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$4.51 $4.51
6.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.53 $2.53
22.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.74 $2.74
-9.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.43 $2.43
-7.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.7 $2.7
-12.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 $7.34
$15.19 $15.19
-51.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.89 $14.89
$16.42 $16.42
-9.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.35 $2.35
-22.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.7 $3.7
-33.51%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.56 $46.56
$74.1 $74.1
-37.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.34 $3.34
-11.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.59 $27.59
$25.42 $25.42
8.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.08 $1.08
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-15.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
4.93%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$188 $188
29.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.8 $67.8
$63.7 $63.7
6.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.1 $81.1
$65.2 $65.2
24.31%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.66 $44.66
$76.7 $76.7
-41.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 $17.26
$13.03 $13.03
32.46%
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 $14.84
$14.93 $14.93
-0.60%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,007 $1,007
$2,063 $2,063
-51.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$39.2K $39.2K
-25.93%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$64.3 $64.3
-9.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.58 $29.58
$52.4 $52.4
-43.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 $90.5
$95.2 $95.2
-4.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.72%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,313 $2,313
$2,378 $2,378
-2.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 $1,896
$1,584 $1,584
19.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,151 $4,151
$4,763 $4,763
-12.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,209 $3,209
$2,815 $2,815
14.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,559 $6,559
$3,588 $3,588
82.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,288 $3,288
$2,490 $2,490
32.03%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Clemente, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.6
-24.24%

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

Last update for San Clemente, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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