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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,606 in Beaumont, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,764 in Beaumont, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,921 in Beaumont, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Beaumont, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Beaumont, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Beaumont, CA by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.43 $18.43

13.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$75.5 $75.5

29.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.19 $11.19

5.99%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.99 $4.99

12.22%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.61 $2.61

17.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.02 $2.02

22.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.12 $6.12

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.14 $7.14

13.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.52 $3.52

16.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.39 $4.39

27.79%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.16 $4.16

8.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.21 $12.21

16.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.55 $11.55

28.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.62 $15.62

22.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.99 $4.99

3.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.64 $1.64

7.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.15 $4.15

5.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.77 $4.77

-4.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.87 $2.87

-11.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.86 $2.86

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.09 $2.09

15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.12 $2.12

23.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.58 $9.58

55.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$16.21 $16.21

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.80 $1.80

36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.30 $3.30

13.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.94 $1.94

27.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.53 $3.53

-9.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.28 $29.28

-14.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.84 $0.84

26.19%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.7K $29.7K

7.53%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.49%

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

$185 $185

$184 $184

0.57%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$52.2 $52.2

18.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$67.3 $67.3

-0.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.13 $43.13

74.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.29 $13.29

10.68%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,308 $1,308

54.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.1K $23.1K

70.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$52.0 $52.0

24.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$39.38 $39.38

33.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$85.6 $85.6

14.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$110 $110

33.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,625 $1,625

42.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,339 $1,339

18.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,664 $2,664

72.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,192 $2,192

26.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,919 $2,919

34.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,421 $2,421

7.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Beaumont, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,625 in Beaumont, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Beaumont, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $393 – making Beaumont, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,909 in Beaumont, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Beaumont, CA, 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 $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,606 in Beaumont, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,020 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,308 in Beaumont, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,606 in Beaumont, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Beaumont, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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