Should you visit Chicago or Fairfield?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Chicago and Fairfield can help you decide which place is right for you.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
Fairfield
The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.
Which city is cheaper, Fairfield or Chicago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chicago is $221, while the average daily cost in Fairfield is $104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Chicago and Fairfield in more detail.
Accommodation
Chicago's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $304. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $152.
Travelers usually pay around $154 for a double occupancy room in Fairfield If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Chicago can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $37 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
While meal prices in Fairfield can vary, the average travelers spends about $24 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Fairfield should cost around $9.60 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Fairfield is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Chicago $37
Fairfield $24
Typical Food prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1
$24
-
Dinner for 3
$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
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Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Factories to Calories Fulton Market Food Tour:
$46
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Learn to Make Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza with a Local:
$49
-
Chicago Crime & Pizza Walk:
$50
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: Chicago History and Food Tour:
$59
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Lonely Planet Experiences: River North Historical Food Tour:
$61
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Signature Food Tour at Chicago's Navy Pier:
$64
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Best in Chow: Chicago River North Food Tour:
$64
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Private Fusion Cooking Class in Downtown Chicago:
$64
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Skip the Line: Tommy Gun's Garage Dinner and Show Ticket:
$67
-
Small-Group Chicago Food Tour: Gold Coast and Old Town:
$75
-
Best of Chicago Tour Including a Deep-Dish Pizza:
$75
Typical Food prices in Fairfield
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Fairfield:
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $29 per day to get around in Chicago.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking
$19
-
Taxi Ride
$10
-
Taxi from Airport
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
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Private Sedan Transfer between ORD and Indianapolis IN:
$587
-
Private SUV Transfer Between O'Hare airport & Downtown Madison WI:
$427
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Private Sedan Transfer Between O'Hare airport & Downtown Madison WI:
$426
-
Departure Private Transfer Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in a Minibus:
$333
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Arrival Private Transfer Chicago O'Hare Airport to Chicago City by Minibus:
$333
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Private SUV Transfer Between O'Hare airport & Downtown Milwaukee WI:
$298
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Transfer to Chicago Premium Outlets:
$288
-
Private Sedan Transfer Between O'Hare airport & Downtown Milwaukee WI:
$266
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Chicago Midway Airport/Hotel Round Trip Private Ground Transfer:
$256
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Chicago O'Hare Private Ground Airport/Hotel Transfer - Round-Trip:
$256
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Private One-Way Midway Airport Transfer:
$225
-
Chicago O'Hare Airport Private Transfers:
$195
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fairfield
Also for Fairfield, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfer To OR From Fairfield in Sedan:
$197
Is it cheaper to fly into Chicago or Fairfield?
Prices for flights to both Fairfield and Chicago change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $34 per person, per day in Chicago. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Fairfield, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $10 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Chicago Art and Architecture Segway Tour:
$71
-
2 Hour Pier Fireworks and Evening Segway Tour in Chicago:
$65
-
2 Hours Chicago Sightseeing Tour - Luxury Private Stretch Limo / 8 Passengers:
$250
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2-Hour Chicago City Lights and Skyline Segway Tour:
$76
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2-Hour Chicago Fireworks Segway Tour:
$76
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2-Hour Chicago Lakefront and Museum Campus Segway Tour:
$73
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2-Hour Haunted Segway Tour of Chicago:
$76
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2-Hour History of Chicago Architecture and Art Segway Tour:
$75
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3 Hours Chicago Sightseeing Tour - Luxury Private SUV, ALL Inclusive:
$392
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3-Hour Segway Tour of Chicago:
$76
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360 Chicago Observation Deck Admission: Skip the Ticket Desk:
$25
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4 Hours Chicago Sightseeing Tour - Luxury Private SUV, ALL Inclusive:
$220
Tours and Activities in Fairfield
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fairfield.
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Private Whitewater Rafting Experience with San Francisco Pickup:
$692
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chicago may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $20 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
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Haunted Chicago Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$25
-
Walking tour to Chicago dive bars:
$41
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Chicago Barrel Bus Craft Distillery Tour:
$90
-
Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour:
$90
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Ultimate Girl's Night Out in Sparkling Wine, Photo Shoot, Burlesque:
$900
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chicago and Fairfield, we can see that Chicago is more expensive. And not only is Fairfield much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fairfield would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fairfield and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago than you might in Fairfield.
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