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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: San Dimas, CA is 21.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: San Dimas, CA is 12.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.31 $18.31
$20.82 $20.82
-12.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81 $81
$100 $100
-19.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 $9.24
$11.97 $11.97
-22.81%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$5.56 $5.56
-7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.11 $3.11
13.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.42 $2.42
-4.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 $6.97
$6.86 $6.86
1.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37 $7.37
$8.45 $8.45
-12.78%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.04 $1.04
6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.15 $4.15
-1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$5.52 $5.52
-15.76%
Eggs
$3.84 $3.84
$4.65 $4.65
-17.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.01 $12.01
$14.33 $14.33
-16.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$14.88 $14.88
9.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.67 $15.67
$19.34 $19.34
-18.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$5.17 $5.17
-11.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.71 $1.71
-1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.41 $4.41
21.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.76 $5.76
$4.51 $4.51
27.72%
Potato (1kg)
$3.2 $3.2
$2.53 $2.53
26.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.74 $2.74
4.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.43 $2.43
-13.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.7 $2.7
-18.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.89 $10.89
$15.19 $15.19
-28.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.64 $13.64
$16.42 $16.42
-16.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.35 $2.35
-15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.7 $3.7
-7.57%
🚌 Getting Around
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.45 $6.45
$3.34 $3.34
93.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.42 $1.42
16.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.68 $29.68
$25.42 $25.42
16.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
11.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$188 $188
-17.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54 $54
$63.7 $63.7
-15.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$65.2 $65.2
-9.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.73 $42.73
$76.7 $76.7
-44.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.26 $15.26
$14.93 $14.93
2.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,524 $1,524
$2,063 $2,063
-26.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.00%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.29 $47.29
$64.3 $64.3
-26.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.86 $33.86
$52.4 $52.4
-35.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$95.2 $95.2
7.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 $1,603
$2,378 $2,378
-32.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 $1,374
$1,584 $1,584
-13.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,667 $2,667
$4,763 $4,763
-44.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,254 $2,254
$2,815 $2,815
-19.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,130 $3,130
$3,588 $3,588
-12.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 $2,626
$2,490 $2,490
5.46%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Dimas, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,065 $4,065
$5,275 $5,275
-22.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
6.6
0.61%

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

Last update for San Dimas, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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