Cost of Living Comparison Between Saratoga, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Saratoga, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Saratoga, CA is 10.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Saratoga, CA is 18.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.25 $20.25
$20.82 $20.82
-2.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1 $80.1
$100 $100
-20.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 $11.49
$11.97 $11.97
-4.01%
Cappuccino
$5.95 $5.95
$5.56 $5.56
7.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.11 $3.11
6.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.42 $2.42
1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.84 $6.84
$6.86 $6.86
-0.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 $7.29
$8.45 $8.45
-13.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.04 $1.04
35.58%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$4.15 $4.15
19.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$5.52 $5.52
-41.12%
Eggs
$4.93 $4.93
$4.65 $4.65
6.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$30.45 $30.45
$14.33 $14.33
112.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.3 $15.3
$14.88 $14.88
2.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.58 $23.58
$19.34 $19.34
21.92%
Apples (1kg)
$6.22 $6.22
$5.17 $5.17
20.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.71 $1.71
43.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$4.41 $4.41
9.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.68 $6.68
$4.51 $4.51
48.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.53 $2.53
35.18%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.74 $2.74
58.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.43 $2.43
27.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.7 $2.7
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.39 $11.39
$15.19 $15.19
-25.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.3 $17.3
$16.42 $16.42
5.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.35 $2.35
-11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.7 $3.7
-27.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.34 $3.34
5.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.42 $1.42
28.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.38 $30.38
$25.42 $25.42
19.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.08 $1.08
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$298 $298
$188 $188
58.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.48 $46.48
$63.7 $63.7
-27.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$65.2 $65.2
4.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.1 $43.1
$76.7 $76.7
-43.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.45 $15.45
$14.93 $14.93
3.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,000 $2,000
$2,063 $2,063
-3.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K $25.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-34.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 $64.1
$64.3 $64.3
-0.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.34 $43.34
$52.4 $52.4
-17.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.6 $81.6
$95.2 $95.2
-14.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-20.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 $1,595
$2,378 $2,378
-32.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,377 $1,377
$1,584 $1,584
-13.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,649 $2,649
$4,763 $4,763
-44.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,815 $2,815
-19.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,656 $2,656
$3,588 $3,588
-25.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,504 $2,504
$2,490 $2,490
0.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saratoga, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,939 $9,939
$5,275 $5,275
88.42%
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 Saratoga, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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