Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Beverly Hills, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Beverly Hills, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $3,225 in Beverly Hills, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $4,188 in Beverly Hills, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $5,150 in Beverly Hills, CA.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 5% less than in Beverly Hills, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Beverly Hills, CA 141% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$24.82 $24.82

-15.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$102 $102

-3.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.22 $14.22

-16.60%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.80 $5.80

-3.45%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.86 $2.86

7.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.24 $2.24

10.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$8.59 $8.59

-16.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$10.18 $10.18

-20.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.09 $1.09

-3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.47 $4.47

-8.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.48 $4.48

25.22%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$7.71 $7.71

-41.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.76 $12.76

11.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$6.68 $6.68

122.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$19.88 $19.88

-3.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.48 $4.48

14.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.64 $2.64

-32.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.30 $3.30

33.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.22 $2.22

105.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.22 $2.22

14.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.24 $2.24

22.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.84 $1.84

31.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.52 $0.52

403.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.79 $11.79

26.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.08 $15.08

-1.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.61 $2.61

-5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.53 $1.53

143.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.05 $2.05

20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.13 $3.13

1.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.67 $1.67

-14.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.60 $29.60

-15.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.29 $1.29

-17.83%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

1.96%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.21%

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

$185 $185

$124 $124

49.56%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$67.0 $67.0

-7.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$69.9 $69.9

-4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.76 $43.76

71.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.03 $15.03

-2.13%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,761 $1,761

14.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.4K $23.4K

68.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$61.3 $61.3

5.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$47.11 $47.11

11.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$99.3 $99.3

-1.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

-0.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,369 $2,369

-2.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,979 $1,979

-19.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,609 $2,609

76.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,251 $2,251

23.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,655 $2,655

47.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,155 $2,155

21.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Beverly Hills, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $2,369 in Beverly Hills, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $102 in Beverly Hills, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $369, with Beverly 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

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $4,838 in Beverly Hills, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,369 in Beverly Hills, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Beverly Hills, CA pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,225 in Beverly Hills, CA – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beverly Hills, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Beverly Hills, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Beverly Hills, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.