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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Stockton, CA is 22.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Stockton, CA is 7.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.2 $20.2
$20.82 $20.82
-2.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 $64.6
$100 $100
-35.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.97 $11.97
-2.76%
Cappuccino
$5.69 $5.69
$5.56 $5.56
2.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.11 $3.11
6.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.42 $2.42
-1.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.43 $6.43
$6.86 $6.86
-6.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 $5.98
$8.45 $8.45
-29.23%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.04 $1.04
34.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.15 $4.15
8.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$5.52 $5.52
-39.86%
Eggs
$4.84 $4.84
$4.65 $4.65
4.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.66 $9.66
$14.33 $14.33
-32.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.47 $15.47
$14.88 $14.88
3.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.63 $22.63
$19.34 $19.34
17.01%
Apples (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$5.17 $5.17
18.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.71 $1.71
-16.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$4.41 $4.41
-34.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.4 $6.4
$4.51 $4.51
41.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.53 $2.53
-33.99%
Onion (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.74 $2.74
57.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.43 $2.43
9.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.7 $2.7
-18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.4 $11.4
$15.19 $15.19
-24.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.09 $14.09
$16.42 $16.42
-14.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 $1.27
$3.7 $3.7
-65.68%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.53 $2.53
13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.71 $37.71
$74.1 $74.1
-49.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.34 $3.34
5.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.42 $1.42
39.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.77 $29.77
$25.42 $25.42
17.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.08 $1.08
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-23.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
4.07%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$297 $297
$188 $188
58.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.67 $48.67
$63.7 $63.7
-23.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$65.2 $65.2
6.15%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.33 $36.33
$76.7 $76.7
-52.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13 $13
$14.93 $14.93
-12.93%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$250 $250
$2,063 $2,063
-87.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K $14.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-62.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$64.3 $64.3
-16.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 $28.61
$52.4 $52.4
-45.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 $77.1
$95.2 $95.2
-19.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 $79.6
$145 $145
-45.00%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,476 $1,476
$2,378 $2,378
-37.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,205 $1,205
$1,584 $1,584
-23.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,763 $2,763
$4,763 $4,763
-42.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 $1,983
$2,815 $2,815
-29.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,048 $3,048
$3,588 $3,588
-15.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,030 $3,030
$2,490 $2,490
21.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Stockton, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,142 $4,142
$5,275 $5,275
-21.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.27
6.6
-5.00%

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

Last update for Stockton, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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