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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,101 per month in San Diego, CA vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,179 per month in San Diego, CA vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,258 per month in San Diego, CA vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

San Diego, CA costs about 32% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Diego, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – San Diego, CA by 198%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.27 $30.27

$19.86 $19.86

52.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$88.3 $88.3

14.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.23 $13.23

12.40%

Cappuccino

$6.22 $6.22

$5.86 $5.86

6.14%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.61 $2.61

27.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.32 $2.32

26.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.03 $7.03

16.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.25 $9.25

32.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.34 $1.34

1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$5.40 $5.40

$4.19 $4.19

28.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.50 $5.50

-10.91%

Eggs

$7.01 $7.01

$4.71 $4.71

48.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.52 $17.52

$14.72 $14.72

19.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.12 $13.12

$14.53 $14.53

-9.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.17 $20.17

$19.69 $19.69

2.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$5.64 $5.64

-17.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.97 $1.97

-7.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$4.04 $4.04

6.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.07 $5.07

0.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.94 $2.94

11.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.92 $2.92

-6.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.28 $2.28

-9.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.12 $3.12

-31.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.75 $11.75

$16.19 $16.19

-27.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.57 $16.57

$15.17 $15.17

9.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.67 $2.67

-17.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.48 $3.48

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.54 $2.54

-3.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.3 $73.3

$76.0 $76.0

-3.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.16 $3.16

-6.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.37 $1.37

51.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.84 $27.84

$22.66 $22.66

22.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.20 $1.20

24.17%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$37.0K $37.0K

-0.85%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.61%

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

$252 $252

$190 $190

33.12%

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

$73.8 $73.8

$68.5 $68.5

7.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 $85.9

$61.1 $61.1

40.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 $69.0

$63.8 $63.8

8.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 $22.99

$27.80 $27.80

-17.30%

Cinema Ticket

$19.62 $19.62

$18.28 $18.28

7.33%

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

$1,924 $1,924

$1,525 $1,525

26.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K $36.2K

$32.0K $32.0K

13.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.1 $69.1

$64.0 $64.0

7.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 $57.4

$54.4 $54.4

5.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$101 $101

14.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$153 $153

-4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,282 $3,282

$2,421 $2,421

35.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,410 $2,410

$1,690 $1,690

42.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,352 $5,352

$4,584 $4,584

16.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,382 $4,382

$2,782 $2,782

57.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,237 $8,237

$4,170 $4,170

97.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,501 $6,501

$2,739 $2,739

137.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,072 $5,072

$4,777 $4,777

6.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.38

2.19%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,282 in San Diego, CA versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in San Diego, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in San Diego, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $471 vs $465 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Diego, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,101 in San Diego, CA, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 32% apart. San Diego, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,151 per month in San Diego, CA and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in San Diego, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in San Diego, CA and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,101 in San Diego, CA and $3,106 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. San Diego, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $4,101 in San Diego, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Diego, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.