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

🙂 Solo nomad: Valley Center, CA is 14.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Valley Center, CA is 19.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.87 $17.87

$20.82 $20.82

-14.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$100 $100

-19.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.28 $15.28

$11.97 $11.97

27.65%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.56 $5.56

-7.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.11 $3.11

15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.42 $2.42

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.36 $7.36

$6.86 $6.86

7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.8 $7.8

$8.45 $8.45

-7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.04 $1.04

-10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.15 $4.15

-20.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.52 $5.52

-13.77%

Eggs

$3.83 $3.83

$4.65 $4.65

-17.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.35 $12.35

$14.33 $14.33

-13.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$14.88 $14.88

-55.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.63 $15.63

$19.34 $19.34

-19.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.17 $5.17

-13.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.41 $4.41

14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.51 $4.51

-3.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.53 $2.53

-12.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.74 $2.74

-28.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.43 $2.43

-16.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.7 $2.7

-45.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 $9.92

$15.19 $15.19

-34.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$16.42 $16.42

-46.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.9 $1.9

$2.35 $2.35

-19.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.7 $3.7

-44.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 $6.69

$3.34 $3.34

100.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.42 $1.42

15.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.12 $29.12

$25.42 $25.42

14.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.08 $1.08

20.37%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-21.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.1K $29.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

11.12%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$156 $156

$188 $188

-16.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.8 $53.8

$63.7 $63.7

-15.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58 $58

$65.2 $65.2

-11.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.39 $42.39

$76.7 $76.7

-44.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$14.93 $14.93

0.74%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,505 $1,505

$2,063 $2,063

-27.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.98 $47.98

$64.3 $64.3

-25.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.95 $33.95

$52.4 $52.4

-35.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

8.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$145 $145

-30.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$2,378 $2,378

-33.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,584 $1,584

-14.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,671 $2,671

$4,763 $4,763

-43.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$2,815 $2,815

-21.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,502 $2,502

$3,588 $3,588

-30.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,808 $2,808

$2,490 $2,490

12.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.6

0.61%

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

Last update for Valley Center, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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