Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Glendora, CA: $2,775 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in Glendora, CA
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Glendora, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Glendora, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,775

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,775 in Glendora, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Glendora, CA $2,775

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,121 in Glendora, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Glendora, CA $4,121

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,467 in Glendora, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Glendora, CA $5,467

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Glendora, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Glendora, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Glendora, CA by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$25.31 $25.31

-18.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$98.1 $98.1

-8.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.53 $11.53

12.23%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.56 $5.56

0.72%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.82 $2.82

-6.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.03 $2.03

11.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$8.13 $8.13

-14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$9.78 $9.78

-9.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.64 $0.64

98.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$5.58 $5.58

-31.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.33 $4.33

22.40%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.03 $3.03

57.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$10.83 $10.83

28.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$6.46 $6.46

126.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$13.79 $13.79

36.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.48 $5.48

-5.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.74 $1.74

13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.32 $4.32

-9.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.41 $6.41

-22.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.62 $3.62

-23.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.49 $3.49

-20.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.40 $2.40

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.21 $2.21

34.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.21 $10.21

37.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.25 $15.25

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.77 $1.77

45.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.20 $3.20

9.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.05 $2.05

20.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$101 $101

-26.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.59 $4.59

-27.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.83 $1.83

-21.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$35.38 $35.38

-31.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.08 $1.08

16.67%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.2K $28.2K

24.25%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.65%

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

$193 $193

$215 $215

-10.39%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$70.3 $70.3

-2.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$49.33 $49.33

24.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$46.19 $46.19

17.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.09 $12.09

46.73%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,983 $1,983

-16.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$43.5K $43.5K

-28.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$73.2 $73.2

-9.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$40.96 $40.96

25.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$81.2 $81.2

23.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$172 $172

-18.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,074 $2,074

17.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,314 $1,314

27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$3,038 $3,038

55.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,161 $2,161

29.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,396 $2,396

71.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,720 $2,720

-2.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$4,029 $4,029

20.76%

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 19, 2026

Last update for Glendora, CA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Glendora, CA

$1.3K 47.3% 21.7% $364

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Glendora, CA

$385 13.9% 14.4% $65

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Glendora, CA

$383 13.8% 11.6% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Glendora, CA

$335 12.1% 3.8% $12

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Glendora, CA

$165 6% 2.6% $4.2

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Glendora, CA

$123 4.4% 29.4% $28

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Glendora, CA

$70 2.5% 21.5% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $2,074 in Glendora, 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 21% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $98.0 in Glendora, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $385 in Glendora, CA – so Glendora, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Glendora, CA

🕒 Local time

12:23 12:23 PM

10:23 10:23 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

50,370

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Glendora, CA 2,770 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,775 in Glendora, CA – roughly 13% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,163 in Glendora, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $98.0 in Glendora, 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 $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,775 in Glendora, 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 $2,775 in Glendora, CA to $3,139 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 Glendora, 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.