Cost of living comparison
California is 5.1% cheaper than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 9.1% less in California
- Groceries
-
pay 1.8% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 7.9% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 22.2% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 29.4% less in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 10.7% less in California
- Clothing
-
pay 18.2% less in California
The cost of housing, transportation, and groceries in California are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare, clothing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are lower in California.
If you lived in California instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 9.1% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 1.8% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 7.9% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 22.2% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 29.4% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 10.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 18.2% less for clothing
|
Chicago
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$117.31
|
|
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