Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Centro, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in El Centro, CA: $2,700 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 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
129

Cost of Living Index in El Centro, CA
Learn more

El Centro, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

El Centro, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,700

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,700 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
El Centro, CA $2,700

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,848 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
El Centro, CA $3,848

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,996 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
El Centro, CA $4,996

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than El Centro, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and El Centro, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, El Centro, CA by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$13.62 $13.62

52.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$44.97 $44.97

98.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.39 $11.39

15.80%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.89 $4.89

15.75%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.54 $2.54

3.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.96 $1.96

16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.90 $4.90

40.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.95 $7.95

11.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.16 $1.16

7.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.88 $5.88

-36.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.37 $4.37

23.34%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.91 $4.91

-3.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.67 $12.67

9.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$20.39 $20.39

-29.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.90 $13.90

32.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.50 $5.50

-5.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.70 $1.70

16.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.28 $4.28

-5.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.72 $6.72

-26.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.64 $3.64

-26.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.47 $3.47

-23.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.28 $2.28

-1.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.31 $2.31

35.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.64 $11.64

18.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.85 $14.85

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.70 $1.70

49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.26 $3.26

7.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.26 $2.26

7.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$58.6 $58.6

25.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.46 $4.46

-28.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.88 $1.88

-26.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$35.36 $35.36

-29.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.53 $1.53

-21.57%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

27.85%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.67%

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

$194 $194

$216 $216

-9.84%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$72.1 $72.1

-3.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$70.5 $70.5

-12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$34.32 $34.32

39.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$11.90 $11.90

49.66%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,895 $1,895

-5.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$42.8K $42.8K

-25.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$72.7 $72.7

-7.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.38 $40.38

29.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$79.1 $79.1

28.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$173 $173

-16.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,401 $1,401

80.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,300 $1,300

21.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,246 $2,246

110.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,076 $2,076

29.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,709 $2,709

54.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,661 $2,661

4.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.64

2.56%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for El Centro, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

El Centro, CA

$1.3K 48.2% 17.6% $278

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

El Centro, CA

$477 17.7% 6.6% $30

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

El Centro, CA

$260 9.6% 24.6% $85

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

El Centro, CA

$358 13.3% 10% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

El Centro, CA

$164 6.1% 0.2% $0.3

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

El Centro, CA

$81 3% 12.8% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

El Centro, CA

$58 2.2% 30.4% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,401 in El Centro, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $45 in El Centro, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $477 in El Centro, CA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 El Centro, CA

🕒 Local time

13:41 1:41 PM

11:41 11:41 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

44,322

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL El Centro, CA 2,650 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
El Centro, 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 El Centro, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,700 in El Centro, CA – roughly 12% apart. 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 $4,049 in El Centro, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Centro, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,401 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $45 in El Centro, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in El Centro, CA, where all-in costs run around $2,700, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In El Centro, CA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,700 in El Centro, CA to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.