Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Garden Grove, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Garden Grove, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,644 in Garden Grove, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,576 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,902 in Garden Grove, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,143 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,161 in Garden Grove, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 14% more than Garden Grove, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Garden Grove, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Garden Grove, CA by 99%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$20.23 $20.23

0.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$85.8 $85.8

17.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.81 $9.81

22.73%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.08 $5.08

13.39%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.69 $2.69

10.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.03 $2.03

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.86 $6.86

4.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.17 $7.17

12.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.07 $1.07

1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$4.04 $4.04

1.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.77 $4.77

10.90%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$4.38 $4.38

4.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$10.47 $10.47

38.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$8.90 $8.90

66.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$14.61 $14.61

33.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.40 $3.40

59.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.87 $1.87

-8.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.96 $3.96

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.35 $5.35

-14.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.16 $3.16

-21.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.04 $3.04

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.39 $1.39

77.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.08 $2.08

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$9.84 $9.84

50.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$14.96 $14.96

2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.69 $4.69

-20.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.02 $2.02

22.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$68.1 $68.1

8.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.01 $4.01

-17.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.80 $2.80

-51.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$31.63 $31.63

-22.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.24 $1.24

-15.32%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

33.86%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.0K $24.0K

8.77%

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

$186 $186

$201 $201

-7.35%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$45.93 $45.93

36.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$71.6 $71.6

-5.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.19 $43.19

74.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$13.87 $13.87

8.87%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$1,218 $1,218

66.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$40.1K $40.1K

-0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$57.0 $57.0

12.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.77 $34.77

47.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$78.2 $78.2

22.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$84.6 $84.6

73.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,585 $1,585

46.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,346 $1,346

16.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$2,664 $2,664

75.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$2,184 $2,184

28.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$4,568 $4,568

6.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Garden Grove, CA: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,585 in Garden Grove, 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 7% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $86.0 in Garden Grove, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $372 – making Garden Grove, 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 Garden Grove, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,644 in Garden Grove, CA – roughly 14% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,966 in Garden Grove, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Garden Grove, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL and $86.0 in Garden Grove, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,644 in Garden Grove, 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 $2,644 in Garden Grove, CA to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Garden Grove, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.