Cost of Living Comparison Between Thousand Oaks, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Thousand Oaks, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Thousand Oaks, CA is 13.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Thousand Oaks, CA is 16.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.5 $24.5
$20.82 $20.82
17.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$100 $100
1.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.51 $8.51
$11.97 $11.97
-28.91%
Cappuccino
$5.7 $5.7
$5.56 $5.56
2.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.11 $3.11
-15.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.42 $2.42
-12.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.02 $7.02
$6.86 $6.86
2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.72 $8.72
$8.45 $8.45
3.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.04 $1.04
11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 $3.83
$4.15 $4.15
-7.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$5.52 $5.52
-15.76%
Eggs
$4.47 $4.47
$4.65 $4.65
-3.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.43 $12.43
$14.33 $14.33
-13.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.64 $13.64
$14.88 $14.88
-8.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.6 $16.6
$19.34 $19.34
-14.17%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$5.17 $5.17
-2.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.71 $1.71
7.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$4.41 $4.41
-14.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.51 $4.51
23.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$2.53 $2.53
24.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.74 $2.74
3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.43 $2.43
-31.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.7 $2.7
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.76 $8.76
$15.19 $15.19
-42.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.89 $14.89
$16.42 $16.42
-9.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$3.7 $3.7
-58.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.53 $2.53
11.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.7 $49.7
$74.1 $74.1
-32.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.34 $3.34
23.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.42 $1.42
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.94 $31.94
$25.42 $25.42
25.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.08 $1.08
19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-11.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K $20.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-20.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 $163
$188 $188
-13.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.94 $47.94
$63.7 $63.7
-24.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 $71.9
$65.2 $65.2
10.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 $67.8
$76.7 $76.7
-11.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.27 $22.27
$13.03 $13.03
70.91%
Cinema Ticket
$14.08 $14.08
$14.93 $14.93
-5.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,782 $1,782
$2,063 $2,063
-13.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.7K $39.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
1.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 $50.6
$64.3 $64.3
-21.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.4 $30.4
$52.4 $52.4
-41.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76 $76
$95.2 $95.2
-20.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$145 $145
-17.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,541 $2,541
$2,378 $2,378
6.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,468 $2,468
$1,584 $1,584
55.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,979 $3,979
$4,763 $4,763
-16.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,437 $3,437
$2,815 $2,815
22.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,816 $5,816
$3,588 $3,588
62.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,869 $5,869
$2,490 $2,490
135.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thousand Oaks, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,021 $6,021
$5,275 $5,275
14.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
6.6
1.06%

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

Last update for Thousand Oaks, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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