2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Chicago, IL vs Castro Valley, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Castro Valley or is it cheaper to live in Chicago?
- Castro Valley is 85.0% more expensive than Chicago.

Which city has more affordable housing, Castro Valley or Chicago?
- Castro Valley housing costs are 272.0% more expensive than Chicago housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Chicago or is Health Care more affordable in Castro Valley.
- Health related expenses are 32.7% more in Castro Valley.
 Chicago, ILCastro Valley, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock195.5100
 Food & Groceries97.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock116.8100
 Housing99.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,047,800$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock125.5100
 Miscellaneous139.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Chicago    270 Reviews

I've lived in Chicago city and later moved to suburbs when family size increased. Absolutely love this city. This is the cleanest and most beautiful among the major  More

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Chicago is probably the best value in a major city that you can find and my personal favorite city. It will become increasingly important as climate change makes the  More

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I've live on north side and south side, UIC medical center. Don't move here go to the north side. No good amenities, if you get bored with one there is no other choices.  More

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Reviews for Castro Valley    7 Reviews

CURMUDGEON - THANK YOU for your post. The most important part of your comment is your second paragraph. "Hodge-Podge" is the correct word for a lot of Castro  More

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Over 11 years ago

Kind of rural but close to Oakland and San  More

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Castro Valley is the largest unincorporated "city" in the Bay Area. Over the years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, but they have all been defeated at  More

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