Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Indio, CA: $1,082 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $24,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
52

Cost of Living Index in Indio, CA
Learn more

Indio, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Indio, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$1,082

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,082 in Indio, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Indio, CA $1,082

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,700 in Indio, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Indio, CA $1,700

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,318 in Indio, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Indio, CA $2,318

Chicago, IL costs about 190% more than Indio, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Chicago, IL sits 132% above the global median, while Indio, CA is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$20.38 $20.38

1.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$49.55 $49.55

82.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$14.96 $14.96

-13.50%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.58 $3.58

56.42%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.28 $1.28

106.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.48 $2.48

-8.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$2.47 $2.47

182.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$9.24 $9.24

-4.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.09 $1.09

16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.01 $4.01

-5.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.81 $4.81

10.19%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.67 $4.67

1.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$7.70 $7.70

81.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$5.37 $5.37

172.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$10.98 $10.98

70.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.98 $4.98

4.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.71 $1.71

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.46 $5.46

-28.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.86 $5.86

-15.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.70 $3.70

-25.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.31 $2.31

19.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.02 $2.02

9.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.92 $1.92

55.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.02 $10.02

39.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.89 $14.89

2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.90 $1.90

35.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.09 $4.09

-14.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.47 $1.47

68.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.91 $3.91

-14.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.37 $1.37

-8.03%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.9K $28.9K

21.28%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.2K $27.2K

-4.09%

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

$193 $193

$168 $168

14.37%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$67.7 $67.7

0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$58.7 $58.7

4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$14.97 $14.97

18.50%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,890 $1,890

-12.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$57.5 $57.5

14.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.63 $39.63

29.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$51.0 $51.0

96.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$70.5 $70.5

99.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,478 $2,478

-1.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$4,167 $4,167

16.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.39

6.57%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Indio, CA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Indio, CA

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Indio, CA

$353 32.6% 21.6% $97

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Indio, CA

$297 27.4% 13.6% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Indio, CA

$295 27.3% 8.5% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Indio, CA

$98 9.1% 39% $63

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Indio, CA

$9.8 * 0.9% 89.7% $85

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Indio, CA

$30 * 2.8% 66.6% $60

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $2,478 in Indio, 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 17% 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 $50.0 in Indio, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $353 – making Indio, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Indio, CA

🕒 Local time

12:58 12:58 PM

10:58 10:58 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

89,137

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Indio, CA 2,660 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $1,082 in Indio, CA – roughly 190% 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 $1,623 in Indio, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $50.0 in Indio, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $1,082 in Indio, 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 $1,082 in Indio, CA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Indio, 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.