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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,434 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $3,117 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,763 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $4,695 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,091 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $6,273 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

San Mateo, CA costs about 42% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Mateo, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – San Mateo, CA by 224%, Chicago, IL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$19.92 $19.92

-1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$88.5 $88.5

10.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.88 $12.88

$12.94 $12.94

-0.46%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$5.54 $5.54

-1.26%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.74 $2.74

7.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.36 $2.36

10.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.12 $7.12

13.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.80 $9.80

$8.73 $8.73

12.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.34 $1.34

23.13%

White Bread (500g)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.17 $4.17

39.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$5.73 $5.73

4.89%

Eggs

$7.28 $7.28

$4.89 $4.89

48.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 $13.37

$14.77 $14.77

-9.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.55 $18.55

$14.85 $14.85

24.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$19.61 $19.61

1.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 $5.99

$5.57 $5.57

7.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.92 $1.92

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.17 $4.17

-1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.99 $8.99

$4.86 $4.86

84.98%

Potato (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.84 $2.84

51.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.80 $2.80

8.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.20 $2.20

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.06 $3.06

-36.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.57 $11.57

$16.16 $16.16

-28.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 $14.43

$14.82 $14.82

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.53 $2.53

-30.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.35 $3.35

-41.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.55 $2.55

54.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.1 $95.1

$75.6 $75.6

25.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.30 $3.30

29.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.36 $1.36

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.17 $1.17

25.64%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$36.0K $36.0K

2.31%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.42%

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

$246 $246

$191 $191

28.50%

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

$41.20 $41.20

$67.9 $67.9

-39.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 $61.2

$61.7 $61.7

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 $110

$63.5 $63.5

72.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.55 $9.55

$27.14 $27.14

-64.81%

Cinema Ticket

$17.72 $17.72

$18.02 $18.02

-1.66%

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

$2,968 $2,968

$1,522 $1,522

94.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.4K $28.4K

$31.3K $31.3K

-9.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 $64.4

$63.7 $63.7

1.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.25 $47.25

$55.3 $55.3

-14.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$100 $100

16.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$153 $153

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,226 $3,226

$2,406 $2,406

34.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,710 $2,710

$1,653 $1,653

63.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,853 $5,853

$4,577 $4,577

27.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,262 $5,262

$2,771 $2,771

89.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.0K $14.0K

$4,031 $4,031

246.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,864 $8,864

$2,745 $2,745

222.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,306 $7,306

$4,804 $4,804

52.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.96

6.38

-6.58%

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

Last update for San Mateo, CA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,226 in San Mateo, CA versus $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in San Mateo, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in San Mateo, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $521 vs $464 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Mateo, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,434 in San Mateo, CA, $3,117 in Chicago, IL – roughly 42% apart. San Mateo, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,651 per month in San Mateo, CA and $4,676 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in San Mateo, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in San Mateo, CA and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,434 in San Mateo, CA and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. San Mateo, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,117 in Chicago, IL to $4,434 in San Mateo, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Mateo, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.