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

😐 Solo nomad: Vacaville, CA is 12.7% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vacaville, CA is 3.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.02 $15.02
$20.82 $20.82
-27.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78 $44.78
$100 $100
-55.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.85 $12.85
$11.97 $11.97
7.35%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$5.56 $5.56
4.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.11 $3.11
7.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.42 $2.42
2.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.05 $7.05
$6.86 $6.86
2.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 $7.03
$8.45 $8.45
-16.80%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.04 $1.04
41.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.91 $4.91
$4.15 $4.15
18.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.77 $6.77
$5.52 $5.52
22.64%
Eggs
$6.26 $6.26
$4.65 $4.65
34.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.13 $23.13
$14.33 $14.33
61.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.14 $15.14
$14.88 $14.88
1.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.63 $23.63
$19.34 $19.34
22.18%
Apples (1kg)
$7.18 $7.18
$5.17 $5.17
38.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.71 $1.71
65.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.2 $5.2
$4.41 $4.41
17.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$4.51 $4.51
68.29%
Potato (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.53 $2.53
54.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.74 $2.74
43.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.43 $2.43
15.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.7 $2.7
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.27 $14.27
$15.19 $15.19
-6.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.08 $18.08
$16.42 $16.42
10.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.35 $2.35
8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.7 $3.7
-10.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.25 $4.25
$3.34 $3.34
27.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.42 $1.42
32.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.56 $39.56
$25.42 $25.42
55.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.08 $1.08
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$188 $188
15.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.1 $64.1
$63.7 $63.7
0.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$65.2 $65.2
3.85%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 $68.8
$76.7 $76.7
-10.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.14 $17.14
$14.93 $14.93
14.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$2,063 $2,063
-37.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.6K $38.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-1.50%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 $69.7
$64.3 $64.3
8.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.02 $46.02
$52.4 $52.4
-12.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$95.2 $95.2
7.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 $151
$145 $145
4.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,318 $2,318
$2,378 $2,378
-2.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,215 $2,215
$1,584 $1,584
39.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,051 $3,051
$4,763 $4,763
-35.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,883 $2,883
$2,815 $2,815
2.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,776 $2,776
$3,588 $3,588
-22.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,243 $2,243
$2,490 $2,490
-9.94%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Vacaville, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,015 $4,015
$5,275 $5,275
-23.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

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

Last update for Vacaville, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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