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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,718 in Belmont, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,885 in Belmont, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,052 in Belmont, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Belmont, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Belmont, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Belmont, CA by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$20.80 $20.80

0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$65.3 $65.3

50.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.82 $10.82

9.98%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.66 $5.66

3.18%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.20 $2.20

39.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.47 $2.47

-4.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.85 $5.85

17.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.17 $8.17

-1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.28 $1.28

-17.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.65 $3.65

9.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.15 $3.15

77.78%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.45 $3.45

31.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$11.09 $11.09

28.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.11 $11.11

34.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$14.21 $14.21

34.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.86 $3.86

37.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.24 $2.24

-23.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.45 $2.45

73.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.22 $2.22

96.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.37 $2.37

8.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.08 $3.08

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.48 $2.48

-0.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.98 $0.98

175.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$11.14 $11.14

34.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$12.90 $12.90

14.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.06 $2.06

15.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.47 $2.47

44.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.04 $2.04

19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$64.4 $64.4

16.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.42 $3.42

-2.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.87 $1.87

-26.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$30.16 $30.16

-16.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.28 $1.28

-14.84%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$26.8K $26.8K

20.26%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

0.29%

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

$188 $188

$288 $288

-34.71%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$48.95 $48.95

29.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$69.1 $69.1

-4.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.67 $42.67

77.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.48 $15.48

-4.39%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,929 $1,929

8.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

45.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$53.0 $53.0

22.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$35.07 $35.07

47.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$88.8 $88.8

8.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$135 $135

8.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$2,219 $2,219

5.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,351 $1,351

16.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,630 $2,630

81.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,237 $2,237

21.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$13.2K $13.2K

-79.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.32

4.43%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Belmont, CA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $2,219 in Belmont, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $65.0 in Belmont, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $337 – making Belmont, 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 Belmont, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Belmont, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,077 in Belmont, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,097 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,929 in Belmont, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,718 in Belmont, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Belmont, CA costs $2,718 versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Belmont, 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.