Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Clarita, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Clarita, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Clarita, CA is 6.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Clarita, CA is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.87 $18.87
$20.82 $20.82
-9.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.7 $86.7
$100 $100
-13.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.05 $15.05
$11.97 $11.97
25.73%
Cappuccino
$6.04 $6.04
$5.56 $5.56
8.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.11 $3.11
3.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.42 $2.42
-0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.89 $8.89
$6.86 $6.86
29.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.76 $8.76
$8.45 $8.45
3.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.04 $1.04
23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$4 $4
$4.15 $4.15
-3.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$5.52 $5.52
-6.88%
Eggs
$5.57 $5.57
$4.65 $4.65
19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.55 $23.55
$14.33 $14.33
64.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.41 $10.41
$14.88 $14.88
-30.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.94 $16.94
$19.34 $19.34
-12.41%
Apples (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$5.17 $5.17
25.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.71 $1.71
13.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$4.41 $4.41
-15.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$4.51 $4.51
-34.59%
Potato (1kg)
$9.94 $9.94
$2.53 $2.53
292.89%
Onion (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$2.74 $2.74
56.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.43 $2.43
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.7 $2.7
11.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.12 $13.12
$15.19 $15.19
-13.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.02 $17.02
$16.42 $16.42
3.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 $4.09
$3.7 $3.7
10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.53 $2.53
-2.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.98 $26.98
$74.1 $74.1
-63.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6 $6
$3.34 $3.34
79.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.42 $1.42
42.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.1 $50.1
$25.42 $25.42
97.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.08 $1.08
12.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K $19.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-38.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 $231
$188 $188
22.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.2 $61.2
$63.7 $63.7
-3.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3 $76.3
$65.2 $65.2
17.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.53 $36.53
$76.7 $76.7
-52.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.6 $24.6
$13.03 $13.03
88.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.7 $12.7
$14.93 $14.93
-14.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,403 $1,403
$2,063 $2,063
-31.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.4K $37.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-4.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2 $69.2
$64.3 $64.3
7.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.08 $15.08
$52.4 $52.4
-71.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.21 $49.21
$95.2 $95.2
-48.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 $146
$145 $145
0.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,913 $2,913
$2,378 $2,378
22.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,291 $2,291
$1,584 $1,584
44.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 $3,939
$4,763 $4,763
-17.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,045 $3,045
$2,815 $2,815
8.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 $3,631
$3,588 $3,588
1.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,342 $4,342
$2,490 $2,490
74.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Clarita, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,830 $5,830
$5,275 $5,275
10.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
6.6
1.21%

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

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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