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

😐 Solo nomad: San Leandro, CA is 1.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Leandro, CA is 10.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.13 $20.13
$20.82 $20.82
-3.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.98 $14.98
$11.97 $11.97
25.15%
Cappuccino
$5.76 $5.76
$5.56 $5.56
3.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 $3.37
$3.11 $3.11
8.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.42 $2.42
14.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.22 $8.22
$6.86 $6.86
19.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.13 $9.13
$8.45 $8.45
8.05%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.04 $1.04
39.42%
White Bread (500g)
$5.1 $5.1
$4.15 $4.15
22.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.6 $6.6
$5.52 $5.52
19.57%
Eggs
$6.06 $6.06
$4.65 $4.65
30.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$14.33 $14.33
14.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$14.88 $14.88
-0.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.06 $24.06
$19.34 $19.34
24.41%
Apples (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$5.17 $5.17
37.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.71 $1.71
3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.41 $4.41
-0.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$4.51 $4.51
22.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$2.53 $2.53
47.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.74 $2.74
44.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.43 $2.43
-18.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.7 $2.7
4.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$15.19 $15.19
-33.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.13 $18.13
$16.42 $16.42
10.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.35 $2.35
-12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.7 $3.7
-30.54%
🚌 Getting Around
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 $98.3
$74.1 $74.1
32.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.25 $4.25
$3.34 $3.34
27.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.42 $1.42
33.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.53 $39.53
$25.42 $25.42
55.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 $244
$188 $188
29.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.15 $49.15
$63.7 $63.7
-22.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4 $66.4
$65.2 $65.2
1.84%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.1 $50.1
$76.7 $76.7
-34.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.72 $16.72
$14.93 $14.93
11.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$2,063 $2,063
-36.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.2K $38.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-2.59%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 $50.4
$64.3 $64.3
-21.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$52.4 $52.4
-22.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 $91.6
$95.2 $95.2
-3.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$145 $145
-17.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,611 $1,611
$2,378 $2,378
-32.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 $1,365
$1,584 $1,584
-13.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,613 $2,613
$4,763 $4,763
-45.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 $2,262
$2,815 $2,815
-19.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,976 $4,976
$3,588 $3,588
38.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,145 $4,145
$2,490 $2,490
66.47%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Leandro, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,703 $5,703
$5,275 $5,275
8.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.