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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Chicago, IL is about 11% cheaper than Burbank, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$19.65 $19.65

2.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$85.4 $85.4

18.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$11.89 $11.89

1.68%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.15 $5.15

11.65%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.89 $2.89

3.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.24 $2.24

9.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$8.48 $8.48

-16.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$9.95 $9.95

-16.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.20 $1.20

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.27 $4.27

-3.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.17 $4.17

29.02%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$6.94 $6.94

-34.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$12.78 $12.78

11.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$17.26 $17.26

-12.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$14.49 $14.49

30.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$6.03 $6.03

-14.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.91 $1.91

-10.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.99 $3.99

6.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.68 $4.68

-5.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.15 $3.15

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.85 $1.85

36.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.21 $2.21

18.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$10.94 $10.94

36.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.28 $15.28

-0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.59 $2.59

-5.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.12 $3.12

19.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.73 $1.73

43.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.15 $3.15

5.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.72 $1.72

-20.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$28.79 $28.79

-12.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.29 $1.29

-18.60%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$24.1K $24.1K

35.41%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

8.26%

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

$187 $187

$179 $179

4.75%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$45.90 $45.90

38.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$65.9 $65.9

0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$131 $131

-41.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$17.66 $17.66

-14.21%

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

$2,029 $2,029

$1,805 $1,805

12.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.6K $23.6K

63.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$58.5 $58.5

8.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$35.08 $35.08

48.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$83.8 $83.8

14.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$83.4 $83.4

77.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$3,168 $3,168

-26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$2,115 $2,115

-23.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$2,662 $2,662

72.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$2,240 $2,240

23.84%

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)

$5,176 $5,176

$5,403 $5,403

-4.21%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Burbank, CA: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $3,168 in Burbank, CA. 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $85.0 in Burbank, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Chicago, IL vs $447 in Burbank, CA – 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

Chicago, IL vs Burbank, CA: 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 $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,253 in Burbank, CA. 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $3,502 in Burbank, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,029 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,805 in Burbank, CA. 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $3,502 in Burbank, CA. 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.