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Chicago vs Sacramento cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Chicago
๐บ๐ธ Sacramento
At a glance
- Where Sacramento is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (64%โ), Scooter rental (30%โ), Haircut (20%โ)
- Where Chicago is clearly cheaper: Street food (38%โ), Laundry (20%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chicago is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.6). Biggest gap: getting around โ Chicago 2 vs Sacramento 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Chicago | Sacramento | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 17$17 | $ 20$20 | Chicago โ15% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8$8 | $ 13$13 | Chicago โ38% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | $ 40$40 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 6$6 | Chicago โ8% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 7.5$7.5 | $ 8$8 | Chicago โ6% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 15$15 | $ 14$14 | Sacramento โ7% |
| Bottled water | $ 1.8$1.8 | $ 2$2 | Chicago โ10% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.7$2.7 | $ 2.9$2.9 | Chicago โ7% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | $ 14$14 | Sacramento โ18% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 10$10 | $ 9$9 | Sacramento โ10% |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.75$2.75 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Sacramento โ9% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 57$57 | $ 40$40 | Sacramento โ30% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 180$180 | $ 150$150 | Sacramento โ17% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 1,950$1,950 | $ 1,700$1,700 | Sacramento โ13% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 5$5 | Chicago โ20% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 25$25 | Sacramento โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | $ 28$28 | Sacramento โ20% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 85$85 | $ 70$70 | Sacramento โ18% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 60$60 | $ 60$60 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 33$33 | $ 12$12 | Sacramento โ64% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chicago or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 9% cheaper than Chicago. Daily budget $334 vs $301; a month $6,737 vs $6,247.
Which is easier to travel, Chicago or Sacramento?
Chicago is easier: Chicago 1.4/5 vs Sacramento 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chicago and Sacramento?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chicago is about $6,737 and Sacramento about $6,247 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.