Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Obispo, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Obispo, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: San Luis Obispo, CA is 15.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Luis Obispo, CA is 3.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.59 $20.59

-1.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$99.0 $99.0

-19.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.61 $11.61

$11.90 $11.90

-2.44%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.83 $5.83

-2.57%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$3.02 $3.02

-6.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.48 $2.48

-2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.80 $6.80

16.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 $7.78

$8.13 $8.13

-4.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.08 $1.08

3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.05 $4.05

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.58 $5.58

-40.86%

Eggs

$2.91 $2.91

$4.57 $4.57

-36.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.23 $15.23

$14.16 $14.16

7.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.63 $10.63

$15.25 $15.25

-30.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$18.90 $18.90

-19.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.27 $5.27

-35.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.70 $1.70

9.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.25 $4.25

-21.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.58 $4.58

-28.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.44 $2.44

19.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.83 $2.83

-0.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.51 $2.51

-15.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.71 $2.71

-24.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.13 $11.13

$15.02 $15.02

-25.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$16.28 $16.28

-7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.39 $2.39

-26.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.56 $3.56

-10.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.51 $2.51

-26.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 $60.4

$75.1 $75.1

-19.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.19 $3.19

12.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.24 $30.24

$25.48 $25.48

18.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.10 $1.10

16.36%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$31.6K $31.6K

-24.11%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.69%

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

$259 $259

$186 $186

39.40%

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

$48.09 $48.09

$61.5 $61.5

-21.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 $68.9

$66.5 $66.5

3.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 $54.2

$77.8 $77.8

-30.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.95 $49.95

$12.93 $12.93

286.31%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 $12.18

$14.86 $14.86

-18.03%

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

$1,942 $1,942

$2,094 $2,094

-7.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$39.3K $39.3K

-34.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 $53.2

$65.2 $65.2

-18.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 $44.39

$50.7 $50.7

-12.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 $89.0

$96.6 $96.6

-7.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$143 $143

-22.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,325 $2,325

$2,309 $2,309

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 $1,906

$1,597 $1,597

19.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,634 $4,634

$4,723 $4,723

-1.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,676 $3,676

$2,806 $2,806

31.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,313 $7,313

$3,787 $3,787

93.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,682 $6,682

$2,494 $2,494

167.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,582 $5,582

$5,384 $5,384

3.68%

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 Luis Obispo, CA: January 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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