๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,728 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,986 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,244 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.
๐Living in Agoura Hills, CA costs roughly 11% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Agoura Hills, CA104% above, Chicago, IL128% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.59$24.59
$20.67$20.67
18.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102$102
$100$100
1.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.10$10.10
$11.86$11.86
-14.84%
Cappuccino
$5.53$5.53
$5.54$5.54
-0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
$3.06$3.06
-13.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$2.48$2.48
-14.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.82$7.82
$6.92$6.92
13.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.73$8.73
$8.13$8.13
7.38%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.04$1.04
20.19%
White Bread(500g)
$5.52$5.52
$3.91$3.91
41.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$5.42$5.42
-11.07%
Eggs
$4.38$4.38
$4.48$4.48
-2.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63$12.63
$14.52$14.52
-13.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.59$11.59
$15.21$15.21
-23.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.26$14.26
$19.25$19.25
-25.92%
Apples(1kg)
$6.35$6.35
$5.39$5.39
17.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87$1.87
$1.69$1.69
10.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78$3.78
$4.32$4.32
-12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.56$5.56
$4.51$4.51
23.28%
Potato(1kg)
$3.18$3.18
$2.56$2.56
24.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$2.70$2.70
9.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16$2.16
$2.41$2.41
-10.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$2.62$2.62
-20.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68$9.68
$15.02$15.02
-35.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.11$15.11
$14.71$14.71
2.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$2.48$2.48
-28.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73$4.73
$3.69$3.69
28.18%
๐ Getting Around
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$2.55$2.55
-23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.5$75.5
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.94$3.94
$3.29$3.29
19.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.72$2.72
$1.43$1.43
90.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.65$31.65
$24.72$24.72
28.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31$1.31
$1.09$1.09
20.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K$29.0K
$31.8K$31.8K
-8.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K$26.9K
$26.4K$26.4K
1.72%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203$203
$183$183
10.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$61.8$61.8
-12.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9$71.9
$65.0$65.0
10.56%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.08$43.08
$76.1$76.1
-43.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.04$13.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.14$14.14
$14.75$14.75
-4.14%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,807$1,807
$2,056$2,056
-12.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.8K$40.8K
$38.5K$38.5K
6.05%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1$55.1
$63.9$63.9
-13.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05$40.05
$51.6$51.6
-22.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6$76.6
$97.3$97.3
-21.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131$131
$147$147
-10.90%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,597$1,597
$2,349$2,349
-32.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331$1,331
$1,581$1,581
-15.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,627$2,627
$4,708$4,708
-44.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,182$2,182
$2,716$2,716
-19.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,705$2,705
$3,976$3,976
-31.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,394$2,394
$2,632$2,632
-9.03%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Agoura Hills, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,586$4,586
$4,723$4,723
-2.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.69
6.6
1.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Agoura Hills, CA: April 21, 2026
Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,597 in Agoura Hills, CA and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐChicago, IL pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $102 in Agoura Hills, CA vs $100 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 vs $447, with Agoura Hills, CA cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Agoura Hills, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Agoura Hills, CA or Chicago, IL?
Agoura Hills, CA wins on cost โ living expenses run 12% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Agoura Hills, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Agoura Hills, CA or Chicago, IL?
On paper, Chicago, IL earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Agoura Hills, CA vs Chicago, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,597 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Agoura Hills, CA and Chicago, IL?
Childcare runs $1,807 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $2,056 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Agoura Hills, CA vs Chicago, IL?
Dining out is cheaper in Agoura Hills, CA โ a meal for two runs $102 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Agoura Hills, CA or Chicago, IL?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Agoura Hills, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Agoura Hills, CA or Chicago, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Agoura Hills, CA delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $2,728 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Agoura Hills, CA hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Agoura Hills, CA gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 12% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Agoura Hills, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared