Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 1.6% cheaper than Oakland.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.7% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 24.9% less in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 11.7% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 15.0% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 1.2% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 28.4% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 6.0% more in Chicago
The cost of entertainment and sports, clothing, restaurants, and childcare in Chicago are more expensive than in Oakland. Expenses including groceries, housing, and transportation are lower in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Oakland, you would:
pay 4.7% more for restaurants
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.83
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 24.9% less for groceries
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.86
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$11.38
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.56
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.32
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.92
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.26
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.31
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.54
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$3.14
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$2.01
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.86
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 11.7% less for transportation
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.87
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$127.30
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$23,536.00
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.66
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 15.0% less for housing
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.19
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,199.50
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,812.50
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$213.87
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 1.2% more for childcare
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,738.89
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$37,770.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 28.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.64
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.00
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.99
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$16.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 6.0% more for clothing
|
Oakland
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$61.43
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$45.08
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$104.32
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$131.92
|
$146.00
|
|
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