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 $4,484 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,623 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,763 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

San Mateo, CA costs about 46% 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 235%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.91 $20.91

-3.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.5 $65.5

$98.1 $98.1

-33.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.59 $11.59

$11.86 $11.86

-2.28%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.60 $5.60

-8.04%

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

$3.30 $3.30

$3.07 $3.07

7.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.47 $2.47

-2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.01 $7.01

$7.14 $7.14

-1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$8.08 $8.08

21.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.05 $1.05

41.90%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.11 $4.11

19.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.61 $5.61

-40.82%

Eggs

$4.98 $4.98

$4.51 $4.51

10.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.00 $15.00

$14.27 $14.27

5.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.89 $14.89

2.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.38 $22.38

$19.19 $19.19

16.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$5.14 $5.14

22.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.77 $1.77

18.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.39 $4.39

8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.71 $6.71

$4.56 $4.56

47.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.54 $2.54

40.16%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.75 $2.75

58.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.42 $2.42

16.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.62 $2.62

6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 $11.14

$14.92 $14.92

-25.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.38 $14.38

$14.80 $14.80

-2.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.46 $2.46

-31.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.73 $3.73

-7.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.63 $4.63

$2.48 $2.48

86.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.2 $66.2

$75.4 $75.4

-12.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.18 $3.18

8.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.42 $1.42

31.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.53 $30.53

$24.94 $24.94

22.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.06 $1.06

21.70%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-4.74%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.83%

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

$254 $254

$185 $185

37.35%

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

$48.07 $48.07

$61.7 $61.7

-22.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$66.9 $66.9

-7.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 $96.5

$75.2 $75.2

28.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.77 $15.77

$14.71 $14.71

7.21%

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

$1,947 $1,947

$2,020 $2,020

-3.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.1K $26.1K

$39.4K $39.4K

-33.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 $52.4

$64.6 $64.6

-18.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.54 $30.54

$52.5 $52.5

-41.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 $89.4

$97.8 $97.8

-8.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$148 $148

-15.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,313 $2,313

20.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,886 $2,886

$1,590 $1,590

81.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,868 $5,868

$4,608 $4,608

27.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,410 $5,410

$2,779 $2,779

94.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K $14.1K

$3,922 $3,922

258.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,719 $8,719

$2,613 $2,613

233.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,458 $7,458

$5,217 $5,217

42.94%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,782 in San Mateo, CA versus $2,313 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 43% 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 $65.0 in San Mateo, CA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $490 in San Mateo, CA vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $4,484 in San Mateo, CA, $3,077 in Chicago, IL – roughly 46% apart. San Mateo, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,725 per month in San Mateo, CA and $4,616 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 10% 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 $65.0 in San Mateo, CA and $98.0 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 $4,484 in San Mateo, CA and $3,077 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 $3,077 in Chicago, IL to $4,484 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.