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

🙂 Solo nomad: Ventura, CA is 4.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ventura, CA is 6.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.1 $25.1
$20.82 $20.82
20.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9 $74.9
$100 $100
-25.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$11.97 $11.97
-17.88%
Cappuccino
$5.5 $5.5
$5.56 $5.56
-1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.11 $3.11
-12.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.86 $6.86
-14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.08 $8.08
$8.45 $8.45
-4.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.04 $1.04
19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.15 $4.15
33.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$5.52 $5.52
-16.12%
Eggs
$4.56 $4.56
$4.65 $4.65
-1.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 $11.15
$14.33 $14.33
-22.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.42 $11.42
$14.88 $14.88
-23.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$19.34 $19.34
-24.46%
Apples (1kg)
$5 $5
$5.17 $5.17
-3.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.71 $1.71
-1.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.9 $2.9
$4.41 $4.41
-34.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$4.51 $4.51
17.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.53 $2.53
13.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.74 $2.74
8.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.43 $2.43
-24.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.7 $2.7
-32.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.5 $10.5
$15.19 $15.19
-30.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 $13.53
$16.42 $16.42
-17.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.7 $3.7
-7.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.53 $2.53
-42.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.28 $49.28
$74.1 $74.1
-33.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 $3.96
$3.34 $3.34
18.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.42 $1.42
40.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.5 $32.5
$25.42 $25.42
27.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.08 $1.08
13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K $28.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-11.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 $199
$188 $188
5.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$63.7 $63.7
-15.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6 $72.6
$65.2 $65.2
11.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 $54.2
$76.7 $76.7
-29.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.17 $20.17
$13.03 $13.03
54.80%
Cinema Ticket
$14.2 $14.2
$14.93 $14.93
-4.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,104 $1,104
$2,063 $2,063
-46.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.5K $39.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
0.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.65 $49.65
$64.3 $64.3
-22.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.69 $29.69
$52.4 $52.4
-43.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.6 $66.6
$95.2 $95.2
-30.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9 $85.9
$145 $145
-40.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 $2,530
$2,378 $2,378
6.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,174 $2,174
$1,584 $1,584
37.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,222 $3,222
$4,763 $4,763
-32.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,394 $3,394
$2,815 $2,815
20.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,536 $6,536
$3,588 $3,588
82.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,128 $6,128
$2,490 $2,490
146.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ventura, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,655 $4,655
$5,275 $5,275
-11.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.6
1.36%

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

Last update for Ventura, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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