Cost of living comparison
Oakland is 10.1% more expensive than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.0% less in Oakland
- Groceries
-
pay 35.5% more in Oakland
- Transportation
-
pay 24.2% more in Oakland
- Housing
-
pay 23.3% more in Oakland
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.4% less in Oakland
- Clothing
-
pay 5.1% less in Oakland
The cost of groceries, transportation, and housing in Oakland are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including entertainment and sports, clothing, restaurants, and childcare are lower in Oakland.
If you lived in Oakland instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 4.0% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.83
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.17
|
|
pay 35.5% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$4.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$11.38
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$5.56
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$5.32
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$6.92
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$3.26
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$1.31
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.54
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$3.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$2.01
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.86
|
|
pay 24.2% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$4.87
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$127.30
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$23,536.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$19.66
|
|
pay 23.3% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$65.19
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$2,199.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$1,812.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$213.87
|
|
pay (unknown) more for childcare
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$2,738.89
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$37,770.00
|
pay 13.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$5.64
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$11.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$34.99
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 5.1% less for clothing
|
Chicago
|
Oakland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$61.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$45.08
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$104.32
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$131.92
|
|
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