Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA is 12.8% higher than in Chicago, IL (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Los Angeles, CA is 16.4% higher than in Chicago, IL | |
| Rent Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 22.4% higher than in Chicago, IL | |
| Restaurant Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 25.8% higher than in Chicago, IL | |
| Groceries Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 1.3% higher than in Chicago, IL | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Los Angeles, CA is 25.0% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
Restaurants | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $20.00 | $25.00 | +25.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $80.00 | $120.00 | +50.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $12.00 | $13.00 | +8.3 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $7.00 | $8.00 | +14.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $9.00 | $9.00 | 0.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.51 | $5.98 | +8.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $2.84 | $3.56 | +25.3 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.22 | $2.61 | +17.4 % |
Markets | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.29 | $1.33 | +3.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.81 | $4.52 | +18.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $2.54 | $2.20 | -13.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $4.78 | $5.96 | +24.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $6.50 | $5.35 | -17.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $6.75 | $7.07 | +4.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $8.66 | $9.22 | +6.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.43 | $2.46 | +1.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.85 | $1.11 | +30.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.80 | $2.40 | +33.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.21 | $2.53 | +14.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.16 | $1.49 | +28.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.18 | $1.31 | +10.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.47 | $2.14 | -13.6 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.69 | $2.50 | -7.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.00 | $15.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $2.94 | $2.79 | -5.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.52 | $2.52 | -28.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $17.50 | $11.86 | -32.3 % |
Transportation | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $2.50 | $1.75 | -30.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $75.00 | $105.00 | +40.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $3.25 | $3.10 | -4.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $2.25 | $2.98 | +32.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $20.00 | $32.11 | +60.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $1.14 | $1.42 | +25.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $36,531.00 | $35,499.00 | -2.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $26,084.16 | $26,152.97 | +0.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $185.54 | $268.22 | +44.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $67.86 | $67.62 | -0.4 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $63.47 | $77.67 | +22.4 % |
Sports And Leisure | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $71.48 | $62.88 | -12.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $27.71 | $12.00 | -56.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $17.00 | $18.00 | +5.9 % |
Childcare | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $1,536.88 | $1,739.86 | +13.2 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $30,558.00 | $32,155.00 | +5.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $64.07 | $83.13 | +29.8 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $51.50 | $61.55 | +19.5 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $101.56 | $109.56 | +7.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $147.42 | $183.30 | +24.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $2,406.94 | $2,534.35 | +5.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,694.12 | $2,343.75 | +38.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $4,673.08 | $5,341.06 | +14.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,802.54 | $3,952.12 | +41.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $361.34 | $757.58 | +109.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $239.53 | $663.07 | +176.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Chicago, IL Edit |
Los Angeles, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $5,136.82 | $4,485.83 | -12.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.38 | 6.33 | -0.7 % |
| Last update: | 13 June 2026 | 12 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 134 | 180 | |
Moving to Chicago, IL? Explore:
Moving to Los Angeles, CA? Explore:
Cities near Chicago, IL: | Cost of Living in Oak Park, Illinois | 9.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Evanston, Illinois | 14.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in La Grange Park, Illinois | 15.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Franklin Park, Illinois | 16.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Des Plaines, Illinois | 20.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Addison, Illinois | 22.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in East Chicago, Indiana | 23.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wheaton, Illinois | 25.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington Heights, Illinois | 27.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bolingbrook, Illinois | 29.21 miles |
Cities near Los Angeles, CA: | Cost of Living in Glendale, California | 8.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alhambra, California | 9.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hermosa Beach, California | 20.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Long Beach, California | 24.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Anaheim, California | 26.50 miles |
| Cost of Living in Canoga Park, California | 27.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Westminster, California | 31.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santa Ana, California | 33.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santa Clarita, California | 35.39 miles |
| Cost of Living in Huntington Beach, California | 36.67 miles |