Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Huntington Beach, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Huntington Beach, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.1% more expensive than Huntington Beach, CA without rent, and 14.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5% more expensive than Huntington Beach, CA without rent, and 25.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.81 $19.81
5.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$86.6 $86.6
15.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.77 $11.77
1.70%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.01 $5.01
10.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.74 $2.74
13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.11 $2.11
14.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.19 $7.19
-4.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.1 $8.1
4.32%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.98 $4.98
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.11 $4.11
34.31%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.1 $5.1
-8.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.67 $12.67
13.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.42 $11.42
30.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.82 $14.82
30.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.42 $4.42
16.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.83 $1.83
-6.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.96 $3.96
11.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.52 $5.52
-18.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.48 $4.48
-43.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.93 $2.93
-6.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.79 $1.79
35.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.07 $2.07
30.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.3 $9.3
63.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.71 $13.71
19.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.7 $1.7
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.7 $4.7
-21.28%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.02 $3.02
-16.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$50.9 $50.9
45.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.05 $4.05
-17.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.8 $2.8
-49.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$31.66 $31.66
-19.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.25 $1.25
-13.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.3K $24.3K
33.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
2.09%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$203 $203
-7.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.1 $54.1
17.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.3 $70.3
-7.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$44.81 $44.81
71.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.26 $14.26
4.70%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,229 $1,229
67.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$39.9K $39.9K
-1.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$58 $58
10.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$35.4 $35.4
47.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$85.4 $85.4
11.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$124 $124
16.23%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,585 $2,585
-8.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,198 $2,198
-27.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$5,008 $5,008
-4.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$5,196 $5,196
-45.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$7,920 $7,920
-54.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,100 $5,100
-51.17%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,237 $6,237
-15.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.58
0.30%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Huntington Beach, CA: October 28, 2025

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