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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 9.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 47% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 9.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.3 $20.3

$20.82 $20.82

-2.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

-0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.54 $11.54

$11.97 $11.97

-3.59%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.56 $5.56

4.14%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$3.11 $3.11

3.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.42 $2.42

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.8 $8.8

$6.86 $6.86

28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.92 $10.92

$8.45 $8.45

29.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.04 $1.04

40.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.15 $4.15

19.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$5.52 $5.52

-42.21%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.65 $4.65

4.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.13 $21.13

$14.33 $14.33

47.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.88 $14.88

1.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.45 $22.45

$19.34 $19.34

16.08%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.17 $5.17

17.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.71 $1.71

43.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.41 $4.41

8.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$4.51 $4.51

49.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.53 $2.53

35.97%

Onion (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.74 $2.74

56.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.43 $2.43

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.7 $2.7

2.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.32 $11.32

$15.19 $15.19

-25.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$16.42 $16.42

-8.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.7 $3.7

-9.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89 $89

$74.1 $74.1

20.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.34 $3.34

2.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.42 $1.42

33.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.82 $29.82

$25.42 $25.42

17.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.08 $1.08

21.30%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.88%

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

$27K $27K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.98%

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

$292 $292

$188 $188

55.38%

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

$49.13 $49.13

$63.7 $63.7

-22.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$65.2 $65.2

4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$76.7 $76.7

58.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.12 $30.12

$13.03 $13.03

131.16%

Cinema Ticket

$15.45 $15.45

$14.93 $14.93

3.48%

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

$1,985 $1,985

$2,063 $2,063

-3.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.2K $26.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-33.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$64.3 $64.3

-18.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.85 $43.85

$52.4 $52.4

-16.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 $89.8

$95.2 $95.2

-5.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$145 $145

-4.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,022 $3,022

$2,378 $2,378

27.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,672 $2,672

$1,584 $1,584

68.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,283 $5,283

$4,763 $4,763

10.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,622 $4,622

$2,815 $2,815

64.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$3,588 $3,588

194.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,587 $9,587

$2,490 $2,490

284.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,864 $5,864

$5,275 $5,275

11.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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