Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,609 in Corona, CA, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
173

Cost of Living Index in Corona, CA
Learn more

Corona, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Corona, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,609

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Corona, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Corona, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,609 in Corona, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Corona, CA $3,609

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,268 in Corona, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Corona, CA $5,268

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,927 in Corona, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Corona, CA $6,927

Chicago, IL is about 16% cheaper than Corona, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Corona, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Corona, CA by 165%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.08 $25.08

-17.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$76.1 $76.1

17.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$15.14 $15.14

-12.88%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.78 $5.78

-2.08%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.59 $3.59

-26.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.83 $1.83

24.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.37 $7.37

-6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$10.13 $10.13

-12.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.35 $1.35

-7.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.79 $4.79

-22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.83 $4.83

11.59%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.74 $5.74

-17.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.43 $11.43

21.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.05 $16.05

-10.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$21.01 $21.01

-12.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.98 $4.98

4.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.24 $2.24

-11.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.92 $3.92

3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.56 $5.56

-10.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.25 $3.25

-17.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.91 $2.91

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.18 $2.18

2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.73 $2.73

14.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.66 $11.66

18.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.73 $14.73

1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.61 $2.61

-2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.97 $3.97

-11.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$4.80 $4.80

-49.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$50.9 $50.9

44.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.12 $3.12

1.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.84 $1.84

-24.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$32.61 $32.61

-23.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.51 $1.51

-20.53%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.1K $29.1K

20.60%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.9K $26.9K

-0.80%

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

$194 $194

$226 $226

-13.98%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$76.8 $76.8

-9.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$80.2 $80.2

-23.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$58.4 $58.4

-17.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.77 $14.77

20.58%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,308 $1,308

37.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$19.8K $19.8K

60.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$61.7 $61.7

8.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$48.15 $48.15

8.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$107 $107

-4.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$105 $105

37.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,104 $2,104

20.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,047 $2,047

-22.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,298 $3,298

43.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,534 $3,534

-23.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,723 $3,723

-25.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,298 $4,298

14.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.31

7.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Corona, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Corona, CA

$2K 56.7% 29.7% $469

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Corona, CA

$471 13% 5.2% $23

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Corona, CA

$394 10.9% 14.3% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Corona, CA

$383 10.6% 17.7% $58

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Corona, CA

$145 4% 11.9% $19

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Corona, CA

$82 2.3% 11.8% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Corona, CA

$88 2.4% 5.3% $4.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,104 in Corona, 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 15% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $76 in Corona, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $471 in Corona, CA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Corona, CA

🕒 Local time

02:02 2:02 AM

00:02 12:02 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

152,374

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Corona, CA 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Corona, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Corona, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,609 in Corona, CA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 16% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,414 in Corona, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Corona, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,104 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Corona, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $76 in Corona, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,609 in Corona, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,609 in Corona, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.