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 $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,437 in Burbank, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,433 in Burbank, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,430 in Burbank, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 12% cheaper than Burbank, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Burbank, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Burbank, CA by 157%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$20.33 $20.33

0.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$84.4 $84.4

20.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.20 $12.20

-1.80%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$4.98 $4.98

14.46%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.99 $2.99

0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.30 $2.30

6.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$8.25 $8.25

-16.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$9.81 $9.81

-17.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.22 $1.22

-15.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.30 $4.30

-8.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.22 $4.22

28.44%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$6.89 $6.89

-34.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.82 $12.82

13.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$16.74 $16.74

-11.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$14.74 $14.74

28.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.99 $5.99

-10.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.93 $1.93

-8.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.11 $4.11

5.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.71 $4.71

-3.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.97 $2.97

-14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.29 $3.29

-14.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.83 $1.83

37.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.12 $2.12

25.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.94 $10.94

36.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.97 $14.97

1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.54 $2.54

-3.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.12 $3.12

13.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.80 $1.80

42.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.01 $3.01

5.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.67 $1.67

-15.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$28.63 $28.63

-10.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.28 $1.28

-18.75%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

35.98%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

11.83%

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

$184 $184

$186 $186

-1.17%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$45.86 $45.86

37.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$67.5 $67.5

-1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$132 $132

-42.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$18.03 $18.03

-15.42%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,782 $1,782

17.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

67.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$58.0 $58.0

10.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$35.14 $35.14

45.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$84.4 $84.4

15.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$84.6 $84.6

75.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$3,231 $3,231

-27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$2,101 $2,101

-25.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,618 $2,618

81.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,217 $2,217

27.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$5,523 $5,523

-13.65%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Burbank, CA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $3,231 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 16% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $84.0 in Burbank, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $445 – making Burbank, 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 Burbank, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burbank, CA costs about 14% 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 $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,156 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $3,437 in Burbank, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,090 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,782 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $3,437 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 $3,009 versus $3,437 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.