Cost of living comparison
California is 19.9% more expensive than Illinois.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.0% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 26.4% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 9.4% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 45.1% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 23.6% more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.4% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 1.4% more in California
The cost of housing, groceries, childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and transportation in California are more expensive than in Illinois.
If you lived in California instead of Illinois, you would:
pay 17.0% more for restaurants
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.03
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.33
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.49
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.85
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 26.4% more for groceries
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.19
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.63
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.30
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.92
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.08
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.05
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.82
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.20
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 9.4% more for transportation
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$72.95
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,096.73
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.96
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 45.1% more for housing
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.96
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,375.37
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,146.99
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$137.37
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 23.6% more for childcare
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,394.11
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,405.00
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 16.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.17
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.81
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.79
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$60.87
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.50
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 1.4% more for clothing
|
Illinois
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$51.50
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.59
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$80.60
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.89
|
$117.31
|
|
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