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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Mateo, CA is 12.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 48.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Mateo, CA is 5.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 40.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.55 $20.55

$20.82 $20.82

-1.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.3 $65.3

$100 $100

-34.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 $11.69

$11.97 $11.97

-2.34%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$5.56 $5.56

-8.99%

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

$3.17 $3.17

$3.11 $3.11

1.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.42 $2.42

1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 $6.97

$6.86 $6.86

1.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.45 $8.45

16.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.04 $1.04

43.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.15 $4.15

19.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.52 $5.52

-39.86%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$4.65 $4.65

2.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$14.33 $14.33

1.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 $15.34

$14.88 $14.88

3.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.18 $22.18

$19.34 $19.34

14.68%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$5.17 $5.17

16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.71 $1.71

27.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5 $5

$4.41 $4.41

13.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.51 $4.51

43.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.53 $2.53

42.29%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.74 $2.74

62.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.43 $2.43

13.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.7 $2.7

1.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.16 $11.16

$15.19 $15.19

-26.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 $13.76

$16.42 $16.42

-16.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.7 $3.7

-7.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.53 $2.53

72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.5 $66.5

$74.1 $74.1

-10.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.34 $3.34

5.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.42 $1.42

35.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.31 $30.31

$25.42 $25.42

19.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.08 $1.08

14.81%

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

$30K $30K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.48%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.30%

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

$257 $257

$188 $188

36.80%

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

$47.84 $47.84

$63.7 $63.7

-24.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$65.2 $65.2

-2.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.4 $94.4

$76.7 $76.7

23.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.8 $15.8

$14.93 $14.93

5.83%

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

$1,987 $1,987

$2,063 $2,063

-3.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26K $26K

$39.2K $39.2K

-33.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$64.3 $64.3

-16.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.65 $29.65

$52.4 $52.4

-43.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$95.2 $95.2

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$145 $145

-13.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,378 $2,378

17.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,869 $2,869

$1,584 $1,584

81.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,762 $5,762

$4,763 $4,763

20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,478 $5,478

$2,815 $2,815

94.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,115 $3,115

$3,588 $3,588

-13.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,308 $2,308

$2,490 $2,490

-7.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,443 $7,443

$5,275 $5,275

41.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.6

-4.24%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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