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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Sonora, CA is 15.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Sonora, CA is 23.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.79 $17.79
$20.82 $20.82
-14.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.3 $77.3
$100 $100
-22.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.35 $14.35
$11.97 $11.97
19.88%
Cappuccino
$4.38 $4.38
$5.56 $5.56
-21.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$3.11 $3.11
-52.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.42 $2.42
-6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 $5.99
$6.86 $6.86
-12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 $5.88
$8.45 $8.45
-30.41%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.04 $1.04
35.58%
White Bread (500g)
$4.3 $4.3
$4.15 $4.15
3.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$5.52 $5.52
-16.67%
Eggs
$5.43 $5.43
$4.65 $4.65
16.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.66 $12.66
$14.33 $14.33
-11.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.86 $9.86
$14.88 $14.88
-33.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$19.34 $19.34
-23.53%
Apples (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$5.17 $5.17
17.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.71 $1.71
18.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.41 $4.41
-8.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.13 $6.13
$4.51 $4.51
35.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.53 $2.53
14.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.74 $2.74
22.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.43 $2.43
-10.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.7 $2.7
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.64 $10.64
$15.19 $15.19
-29.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 $11.92
$16.42 $16.42
-27.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.7 $3.7
-10.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.53 $2.53
-18.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 $3.59
$3.34 $3.34
7.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.42 $1.42
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.28 $40.28
$25.42 $25.42
58.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.08 $1.08
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K $23.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-9.87%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 $275
$188 $188
45.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$63.7 $63.7
-17.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$65.2 $65.2
11.60%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.97 $42.97
$76.7 $76.7
-43.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.48 $14.48
$14.93 $14.93
-3.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,122 $1,122
$2,063 $2,063
-45.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.6K $37.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-4.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 $59.4
$64.3 $64.3
-7.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61 $61
$52.4 $52.4
16.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 $79
$95.2 $95.2
-16.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$145 $145
-30.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 $1,597
$2,378 $2,378
-32.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,347 $1,347
$1,584 $1,584
-14.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,644 $2,644
$4,763 $4,763
-44.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,235 $2,235
$2,815 $2,815
-20.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,173 $3,173
$3,588 $3,588
-11.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,557 $2,557
$2,490 $2,490
2.67%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Sonora, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,082 $4,082
$5,275 $5,275
-22.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.6
-24.24%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sonora, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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