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

😐 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 2.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 0.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.95 $22.95

$20.82 $20.82

10.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$100 $100

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.8 $14.8

$11.97 $11.97

23.64%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.56 $5.56

9.17%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.11 $3.11

-0.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.42 $2.42

7.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.86 $6.86

14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.95 $8.95

$8.45 $8.45

5.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.04 $1.04

21.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.5 $4.5

$4.15 $4.15

8.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$5.52 $5.52

-19.93%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$4.65 $4.65

8.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.66 $13.66

$14.33 $14.33

-4.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.77 $12.77

$14.88 $14.88

-14.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.5 $18.5

$19.34 $19.34

-4.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.6 $4.6

$5.17 $5.17

-11.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.41 $4.41

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.51 $4.51

4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.53 $2.53

17.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.74 $2.74

-9.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.43 $2.43

-6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.7 $2.7

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.2 $12.2

$15.19 $15.19

-19.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$16.42 $16.42

-6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.7 $3.7

-31.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.53 $2.53

1.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 $72.1

$74.1 $74.1

-2.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.34 $3.34

-11.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.42 $1.42

45.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.69 $27.69

$25.42 $25.42

8.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.08 $1.08

16.67%

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

$30.7K $30.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-5.17%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.60%

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

$275 $275

$188 $188

46.09%

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

$67 $67

$63.7 $63.7

5.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.1 $79.1

$65.2 $65.2

21.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 $66.6

$76.7 $76.7

-13.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.66 $24.66

$13.03 $13.03

89.26%

Cinema Ticket

$15.76 $15.76

$14.93 $14.93

5.56%

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

$1,625 $1,625

$2,063 $2,063

-21.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.6K $28.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-26.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$64.3 $64.3

-9.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.8 $58.8

$52.4 $52.4

12.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98 $98

$95.2 $95.2

2.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$145 $145

-20.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,808 $2,808

$2,378 $2,378

18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,412 $2,412

$1,584 $1,584

52.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,005 $5,005

$4,763 $4,763

5.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,128 $4,128

$2,815 $2,815

46.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,534 $9,534

$3,588 $3,588

165.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,940 $6,940

$2,490 $2,490

178.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,341 $5,341

$5,275 $5,275

1.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.6

-3.18%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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