Cost of Living Comparison Between Walnut Creek, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Walnut Creek, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,364 per month in Walnut Creek, CA vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,009 per month in Walnut Creek, CA vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,654 per month in Walnut Creek, CA vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Walnut Creek, CA costs about 9% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Walnut Creek, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Walnut Creek, CA by 151%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.22 $22.22

$20.91 $20.91

6.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$98.1 $98.1

0.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.37 $14.37

$11.86 $11.86

21.16%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.60 $5.60

-5.89%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.07 $3.07

1.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.47 $2.47

-17.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.14 $7.14

14.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$8.08 $8.08

14.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.05 $1.05

34.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.11 $4.11

18.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.61 $5.61

-27.27%

Eggs

$5.40 $5.40

$4.51 $4.51

19.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$14.27 $14.27

-61.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$14.89 $14.89

-55.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$19.19 $19.19

-65.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.14 $5.14

-14.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.77 $1.77

10.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$4.39 $4.39

46.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$4.56 $4.56

14.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.54 $2.54

-12.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.75 $2.75

17.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.42 $2.42

-9.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.62 $2.62

11.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 $10.97

$14.92 $14.92

-26.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.91 $11.91

$14.80 $14.80

-19.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.46 $2.46

-31.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.73 $3.73

-39.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.48 $2.48

148.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.18 $3.18

9.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.42 $1.42

35.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.93 $39.93

$24.94 $24.94

60.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.06 $1.06

17.92%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$31.9K $31.9K

-5.30%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

5.41%

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

$331 $331

$185 $185

79.22%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$61.7 $61.7

-15.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$66.9 $66.9

6.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 $86.6

$75.2 $75.2

15.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 $15.09

$13.08 $13.08

15.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.69 $14.69

$14.71 $14.71

-0.14%

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

$2,233 $2,233

$2,020 $2,020

10.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.5K $37.5K

$39.4K $39.4K

-4.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 $62.8

$64.6 $64.6

-2.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 $60.9

$52.5 $52.5

16.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 $90.3

$97.8 $97.8

-7.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$148 $148

-14.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 $2,323

$2,313 $2,313

0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,962 $1,962

$1,590 $1,590

23.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,430 $4,430

$4,608 $4,608

-3.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,518 $3,518

$2,779 $2,779

26.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,481 $6,481

$2,613 $2,613

148.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,879 $6,879

$5,217 $5,217

31.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Walnut Creek, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,323 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Walnut Creek, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $447 – making Walnut Creek, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Walnut Creek, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,364 in Walnut Creek, CA, $3,077 in Chicago, IL – roughly 9% apart. Walnut Creek, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,046 per month in Walnut Creek, CA and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Walnut Creek, CA and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Walnut Creek, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,364 in Walnut Creek, CA and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,077 in Chicago, IL to $3,364 in Walnut Creek, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Walnut Creek, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.