Cost of Living Comparison Between Simi Valley, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Simi Valley, CA and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Simi Valley, CA is 7.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Simi Valley, CA is 23% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.29 $23.29
$20.82 $20.82
11.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4 $70.4
$100 $100
-29.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 $10.09
$11.97 $11.97
-15.71%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$5.56 $5.56
-1.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.11 $3.11
-36.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.42 $2.42
-15.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.3 $5.3
$6.86 $6.86
-22.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56 $7.56
$8.45 $8.45
-10.53%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.04 $1.04
15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 $2.35
$4.15 $4.15
-43.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$5.52 $5.52
-16.12%
Eggs
$4.58 $4.58
$4.65 $4.65
-1.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.62 $12.62
$14.33 $14.33
-11.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.81 $10.81
$14.88 $14.88
-27.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.78 $14.78
$19.34 $19.34
-23.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$5.17 $5.17
-58.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.71 $1.71
13.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$4.41 $4.41
-18.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.51 $4.51
22.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.53 $2.53
1.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.74 $2.74
7.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.43 $2.43
-15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.7 $2.7
-22.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.93 $11.93
$15.19 $15.19
-21.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.74 $9.74
$16.42 $16.42
-40.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.7 $3.7
21.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.34 $3.34
18.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.42 $1.42
45.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.56 $31.56
$25.42 $25.42
24.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-12.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$188 $188
7.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55 $55
$63.7 $63.7
-13.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$65.2 $65.2
10.52%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.09 $43.09
$76.7 $76.7
-43.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.92 $11.92
$14.93 $14.93
-20.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,195 $1,195
$2,063 $2,063
-42.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.6K $39.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
1.13%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 $70.3
$64.3 $64.3
9.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 $41.29
$52.4 $52.4
-21.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 $77.7
$95.2 $95.2
-18.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 $154
$145 $145
6.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,088 $2,088
$2,378 $2,378
-12.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,982 $1,982
$1,584 $1,584
25.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,423 $2,423
$4,763 $4,763
-49.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,283 $3,283
$2,815 $2,815
16.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,388 $2,388
$3,588 $3,588
-33.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 $2,292
$2,490 $2,490
-7.95%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Simi Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,366 $5,366
$5,275 $5,275
1.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.6
1.36%

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

Last update for Simi Valley, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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