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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Vista, CA is 20.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Vista, CA is 26% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.95 $17.95
$20.82 $20.82
-13.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 $71.1
$100 $100
-29.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.83 $13.83
$11.97 $11.97
15.54%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$5.56 $5.56
-3.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.11 $3.11
-18.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.42 $2.42
-37.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 $7.19
$6.86 $6.86
4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.18 $8.18
$8.45 $8.45
-3.20%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.81 $3.81
$4.15 $4.15
-8.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$5.52 $5.52
-14.67%
Eggs
$3.76 $3.76
$4.65 $4.65
-19.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.77 $8.77
$14.33 $14.33
-38.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.67 $9.67
$14.88 $14.88
-35.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.3 $15.3
$19.34 $19.34
-20.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$5.17 $5.17
-15.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.71 $1.71
-26.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.2 $5.2
$4.41 $4.41
17.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$4.51 $4.51
-52.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.53 $2.53
24.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.74 $2.74
4.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.43 $2.43
-30.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.7 $2.7
-19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.28 $9.28
$15.19 $15.19
-38.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 $13.74
$16.42 $16.42
-16.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.35 $2.35
-18.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.7 $3.7
-8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.53 $2.53
-3.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.67 $6.67
$3.34 $3.34
99.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.42 $1.42
21.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.12 $29.12
$25.42 $25.42
14.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.08 $1.08
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25K $25K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K $21.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-17.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 $157
$188 $188
-16.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$63.7 $63.7
-14.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$65.2 $65.2
-11.98%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.93 $42.93
$76.7 $76.7
-44.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.84 $11.84
$14.93 $14.93
-20.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,501 $1,501
$2,063 $2,063
-27.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.18%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.09 $47.09
$64.3 $64.3
-26.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.83 $33.83
$52.4 $52.4
-35.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,228 $2,228
$2,378 $2,378
-6.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,897 $1,897
$1,584 $1,584
19.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,355 $3,355
$4,763 $4,763
-29.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,313 $3,313
$2,815 $2,815
17.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,655 $5,655
$3,588 $3,588
57.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,641 $5,641
$2,490 $2,490
126.51%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Vista, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,039 $4,039
$5,275 $5,275
-23.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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

Last update for Vista, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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