Cost of Living Comparison Between Burbank, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Burbank, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,502 per month in Burbank, CA vs $3,117 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,450 per month in Burbank, CA vs $4,601 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,397 per month in Burbank, CA vs $6,085 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Burbank, CA costs about 12% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Burbank, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Burbank, CA by 163%, Chicago, IL by 134%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$20.18 $20.18

-2.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.4 $85.4

$101 $101

-15.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$12.09 $12.09

-1.65%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.75 $5.75

-10.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.98 $2.98

-3.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.46 $2.46

-8.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.48 $8.48

$7.04 $7.04

20.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.95 $9.95

$8.27 $8.27

20.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.08 $1.08

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.14 $4.14

3.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.38 $5.38

-22.49%

Eggs

$6.94 $6.94

$4.52 $4.52

53.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$14.25 $14.25

-10.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$15.04 $15.04

14.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.49 $14.49

$18.84 $18.84

-23.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.13 $5.13

17.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.70 $1.70

12.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.24 $4.24

-5.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.43 $4.43

5.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.57 $2.57

14.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.73 $2.73

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.52 $2.52

-26.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.62 $2.62

-15.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.94 $10.94

$14.91 $14.91

-26.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.19 $15.19

0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.46 $2.46

5.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.74 $3.74

-16.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.48 $2.48

-30.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.31 $3.31

-4.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.36 $1.36

26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.79 $28.79

$25.06 $25.06

14.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.05 $1.05

22.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.1K $24.1K

$32.6K $32.6K

-26.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

-7.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$179 $179

$187 $187

-4.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.90 $45.90

$63.6 $63.6

-27.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$66.0 $66.0

-0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 $131

$77.1 $77.1

70.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 $17.66

$15.15 $15.15

16.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,805 $1,805

$2,029 $2,029

-11.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$38.7K $38.7K

-38.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 $58.5

$63.5 $63.5

-7.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 $35.08

$52.1 $52.1

-32.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 $83.8

$96.1 $96.1

-12.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 $83.4

$148 $148

-43.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,168 $3,168

$2,343 $2,343

35.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,115 $2,115

$1,623 $1,623

30.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$4,601 $4,601

-42.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$2,774 $2,774

-19.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,403 $5,403

$5,176 $5,176

4.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Burbank, CA: June 16, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,168 in Burbank, CA versus $2,343 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Burbank, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Burbank, CA versus $101 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Burbank, CA vs $446 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Burbank, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burbank, CA costs about 12% more than Chicago, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,253 per month in Burbank, CA and $4,675 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,502 in Burbank, CA and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,805 per month in Burbank, CA and $2,029 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,502 in Burbank, CA and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chicago, IL costs $3,117 versus $3,502 in Burbank, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burbank, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.