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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,503 in Huntington Beach, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,808 in Huntington Beach, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $8,114 in Huntington Beach, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 11% cheaper than Huntington Beach, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Huntington Beach, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Huntington Beach, CA by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.86 $19.86

2.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$85.4 $85.4

14.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$12.10 $12.10

-0.25%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.97 $4.97

15.29%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.76 $2.76

7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.87 $6.87

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.07 $8.07

1.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.19 $1.19

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.02 $5.02

-18.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.04 $4.04

36.14%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.96 $4.96

-6.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.57 $12.57

14.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$11.69 $11.69

30.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$14.28 $14.28

35.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.27 $4.27

20.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.84 $1.84

-4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.78 $3.78

14.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.45 $5.45

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$4.51 $4.51

-45.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.09 $3.09

-9.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.79 $1.79

40.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.01 $2.01

32.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.49 $9.49

57.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.94 $14.94

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.74 $1.74

40.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.55 $4.55

-22.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.91 $2.91

-16.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$50.9 $50.9

46.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.99 $3.99

-16.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.76 $2.76

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$31.92 $31.92

-21.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.29 $1.29

-15.50%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.0K $24.0K

32.98%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.96%

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

$187 $187

$205 $205

-8.69%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$55.3 $55.3

14.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$72.5 $72.5

-9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$44.45 $44.45

70.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.23 $14.23

4.01%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,222 $1,222

65.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$39.6K $39.6K

-1.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$59.2 $59.2

8.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$34.54 $34.54

49.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$85.7 $85.7

11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$127 $127

14.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$2,575 $2,575

-9.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$2,184 $2,184

-26.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$5,038 $5,038

-6.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$5,268 $5,268

-48.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$7,957 $7,957

-51.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$5,044 $5,044

-49.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$5,370 $5,370

-5.03%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Huntington Beach, CA: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $2,575 in Huntington Beach, 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 5% higher in Huntington Beach, CA, 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $85.0 in Huntington Beach, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $411 – making Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huntington Beach, CA costs about 13% more than Chicago, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,254 in Huntington Beach, 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Huntington Beach, CA – 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $85.0 in Huntington Beach, 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 $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $3,503 in Huntington Beach, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Huntington Beach, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,111 in Chicago, IL to $3,503 in Huntington Beach, CA. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Huntington Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.