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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Rosa, CA is 1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.6% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Rosa, CA is 2.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.29 $22.29

$20.82 $20.82

7.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$100 $100

-18.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.82 $11.82

$11.97 $11.97

-1.25%

Cappuccino

$4.92 $4.92

$5.56 $5.56

-11.51%

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

$2.84 $2.84

$3.11 $3.11

-8.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.42 $2.42

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.66 $7.66

$6.86 $6.86

11.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.34 $8.34

$8.45 $8.45

-1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.04 $1.04

16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.85 $4.85

$4.15 $4.15

16.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.52 $5.52

-21.01%

Eggs

$5.45 $5.45

$4.65 $4.65

17.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.5 $16.5

$14.33 $14.33

15.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$14.88 $14.88

-25.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.53 $20.53

$19.34 $19.34

6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.17 $5.17

55.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.8 $2.8

$1.71 $1.71

63.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$4.41 $4.41

86.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.51 $4.51

84.70%

Potato (1kg)

$4 $4

$2.53 $2.53

58.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.74 $2.74

43.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.43 $2.43

22.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.7 $2.7

-25.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.79 $11.79

$15.19 $15.19

-22.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.45 $13.45

$16.42 $16.42

-18.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.7 $3.7

-28.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.53 $2.53

10.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.02 $30.02

$74.1 $74.1

-59.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.34 $3.34

17.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.42 $1.42

34.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.37 $29.37

$25.42 $25.42

15.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.08 $1.08

24.07%

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

$34.3K $34.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

5.83%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

4.58%

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

$246 $246

$188 $188

30.81%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$63.7 $63.7

-21.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$65.2 $65.2

15.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.2 $65.2

$76.7 $76.7

-15.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.03 $13.03

14.27%

Cinema Ticket

$13.94 $13.94

$14.93 $14.93

-6.63%

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

$1,880 $1,880

$2,063 $2,063

-8.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.2K $40.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

2.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 $59.6

$64.3 $64.3

-7.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44 $44

$52.4 $52.4

-16.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$95.2 $95.2

14.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$145 $145

-10.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 $2,284

$2,378 $2,378

-3.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 $1,897

$1,584 $1,584

19.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$4,763 $4,763

-21.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,188 $3,188

$2,815 $2,815

13.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,626 $5,626

$3,588 $3,588

56.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,978 $4,978

$2,490 $2,490

99.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,762 $4,762

$5,275 $5,275

-9.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.6

-1.21%

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

Last update for Santa Rosa, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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