Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dana Point, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,072 a month against $4,362 in Dana Point, CA, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
211

Cost of Living Index in Dana Point, CA
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Dana Point, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Dana Point, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,362

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Dana Point, 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 Dana Point, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,362 in Dana Point, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Dana Point, CA $4,362

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,034 in Dana Point, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Dana Point, CA $6,034

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $7,707 in Dana Point, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Dana Point, CA $7,707

Chicago, IL is about 30% cheaper than Dana Point, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Dana Point, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Dana Point, CA by 223%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$25.41 $25.41

-19.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$101 $101

-12.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$14.38 $14.38

-10.64%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.96 $5.96

-3.02%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.74 $3.74

-26.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.65 $2.65

-14.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.95 $7.95

-13.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$9.84 $9.84

-6.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.28 $1.28

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.86 $4.86

-26.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.72 $4.72

13.98%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.91 $3.91

16.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$11.01 $11.01

23.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$13.09 $13.09

7.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$15.25 $15.25

18.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.14 $5.14

0.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.27 $2.27

-12.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.51 $3.51

10.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.36 $5.36

-9.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.02 $3.02

-6.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.89 $2.89

-7.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.93 $1.93

7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.55 $2.55

18.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.93 $11.93

16.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.93 $14.93

0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.96 $2.96

-11.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.69 $2.69

28.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.94 $1.94

25.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$51.4 $51.4

46.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.57 $3.57

-11.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.19 $2.19

-22.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$38.44 $38.44

-35.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.31 $1.31

-2.29%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

10.38%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$27.0K $27.0K

-0.60%

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

$192 $192

$248 $248

-22.55%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$79.3 $79.3

-12.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$77.7 $77.7

-19.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$40.66 $40.66

17.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$20.30 $20.30

33.50%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$18.54 $18.54

-3.83%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,715 $1,715

5.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$35.2K $35.2K

15.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$67.2 $67.2

-1.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$53.1 $53.1

-3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$112 $112

-7.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$174 $174

-18.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$2,941 $2,941

-13.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$2,796 $2,796

-42.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$5,250 $5,250

-8.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$4,207 $4,207

-35.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,828 $2,828

47.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,374 $2,374

14.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$7,541 $7,541

-34.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.56

3.35%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Dana Point, CA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Dana Point, CA

$2.8K 64.1% 72.5% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Dana Point, CA

$423 9.7% 3.6% $16

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Dana Point, CA

$403 9.2% 17.2% $59

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Dana Point, CA

$405 9.3% 25.1% $81

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Dana Point, CA

$183 4.2% 11.6% $19

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Dana Point, CA

$74 1.7% 23.8% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Dana Point, CA

$78 1.8% 6.8% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $2,941 in Dana Point, 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 53% higher in Dana Point, CA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in Dana Point, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Chicago, IL vs $423 in Dana Point, CA – so Dana Point, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Dana Point, CA

🕒 Local time

21:25 9:25 PM

19:25 7:25 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

33,351

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Dana Point, CA 2,790 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Dana Point, 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 Dana Point, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $4,362 in Dana Point, CA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 30% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $6,542 in Dana Point, 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,531 there versus $2,941 in Dana Point, CA.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Dana Point, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $101 in Dana Point, 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $4,362 in Dana Point, 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL to $4,362 in Dana Point, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dana Point, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.