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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Maria, CA is 30.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 35.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$20.82 $20.82

-3.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.9 $68.9

$100 $100

-31.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.29 $11.29

$11.97 $11.97

-5.68%

Cappuccino

$4.76 $4.76

$5.56 $5.56

-14.39%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$3.11 $3.11

-21.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.42 $2.42

-16.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.86 $6.86

-10.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.45 $8.45

-3.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.04 $1.04

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 $2.72

$4.15 $4.15

-34.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.52 $5.52

-13.77%

Eggs

$3.59 $3.59

$4.65 $4.65

-22.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 $10.26

$14.33 $14.33

-28.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 $8.37

$14.88 $14.88

-43.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.21 $17.21

$19.34 $19.34

-11.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$5.17 $5.17

-26.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.41 $4.41

-21.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$4.51 $4.51

-27.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.53 $2.53

21.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.74 $2.74

-24.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.43 $2.43

-26.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 $1.31

$2.7 $2.7

-51.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11 $11

$15.19 $15.19

-27.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$16.42 $16.42

-7.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.35 $2.35

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.7 $3.7

-10.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.53 $2.53

-23.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.34 $3.34

4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.42 $1.42

27.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.6 $24.6

$25.42 $25.42

-3.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.08 $1.08

13.89%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

13.52%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

11.96%

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

$166 $166

$188 $188

-11.74%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$63.7 $63.7

-19.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 $85.4

$65.2 $65.2

30.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.52 $43.52

$76.7 $76.7

-43.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 $14.55

$14.93 $14.93

-2.55%

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

$992 $992

$2,063 $2,063

-51.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K $12.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-67.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$64.3 $64.3

-14.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 $39.73

$52.4 $52.4

-24.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73 $73

$95.2 $95.2

-23.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 $78.1

$145 $145

-45.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$2,378 $2,378

-5.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$1,584 $1,584

30.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,376 $3,376

$4,763 $4,763

-29.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,138 $3,138

$2,815 $2,815

11.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,992 $7,992

$3,588 $3,588

122.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,900 $7,900

$2,490 $2,490

217.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,387 $4,387

$5,275 $5,275

-16.84%

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 Santa Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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