Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Canoga Park, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Canoga Park, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,628 in Canoga Park, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,885 in Canoga Park, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $5,141 in Canoga Park, CA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 18% more expensive than Canoga Park, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Canoga Park, CA 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.06 $19.06

6.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$75.6 $75.6

30.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.13 $11.13

8.45%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.23 $5.23

9.56%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.50 $2.50

18.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.95 $1.95

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.11 $6.11

14.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.93 $6.93

18.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.55 $3.55

14.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.39 $4.39

25.28%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.18 $4.18

11.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.08 $12.08

19.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$11.54 $11.54

31.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.28 $15.28

26.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.98 $4.98

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.59 $1.59

10.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.19 $4.19

3.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.66 $4.66

-6.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.78 $2.78

-12.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.89 $2.89

-3.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.10 $2.10

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.14 $2.14

24.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.49 $9.49

57.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.08 $15.08

-0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.86 $1.86

31.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.35 $3.35

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.06 $2.06

17.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$49.16 $49.16

51.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.46 $3.46

-4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.60 $1.60

-13.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$29.76 $29.76

-15.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.2K $29.2K

9.09%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

5.87%

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

$187 $187

$185 $185

0.85%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$53.5 $53.5

18.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$68.9 $68.9

-4.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$42.74 $42.74

77.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.25 $13.25

11.70%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,281 $1,281

58.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

67.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$51.0 $51.0

25.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$40.03 $40.03

29.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$85.7 $85.7

11.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

28.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,869 $1,869

24.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,379 $1,379

16.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,677 $2,677

75.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,263 $2,263

20.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,778 $2,778

37.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,047 $2,047

23.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Canoga Park, CA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,869 in Canoga Park, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Canoga Park, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $389 per month, with Canoga Park, CA cheaper across the board.

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 Canoga Park, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Canoga Park, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,666 in Chicago, IL and $3,943 in Canoga Park, 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,869 in Canoga Park, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Canoga Park, CA runs roughly 52% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,025 in Chicago, IL versus $1,281 in Canoga Park, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Canoga Park, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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

Expats usually find Canoga Park, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.