Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Laguna Niguel, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Laguna Niguel, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.8% more expensive than Laguna Niguel, CA without rent, and 26.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.1% cheaper than Laguna Niguel, CA without rent, and 7.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$25.31 $25.31
-17.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$99.4 $99.4
0.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.67 $13.67
-12.44%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.6 $5.6
-0.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.88 $2.88
7.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.13 $2.13
13.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.82 $7.82
-12.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.01 $9.01
-6.22%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.25 $1.25
-16.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.33 $4.33
-4.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.02 $6.02
-8.31%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.46 $4.46
4.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.76 $12.76
12.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.95 $11.95
24.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.22 $15.22
27.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.28 $6.28
-17.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.86 $1.86
-8.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.38 $4.38
0.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.38 $5.38
-16.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.19 $3.19
-20.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.09 $3.09
-11.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.08 $2.08
16.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.08 $2.08
29.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.53 $11.53
31.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.11 $15.11
8.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.25 $3.25
13.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$65.6 $65.6
13.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.18 $3.18
5.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.1 $2.1
-32.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.86 $28.86
-11.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.24 $1.24
-12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.3K $32.3K
0.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$204 $204
-7.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57.9 $57.9
10.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$73.1 $73.1
-10.83%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$93.8 $93.8
-18.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$16.72 $16.72
-10.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,755 $1,755
17.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.20%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$62.1 $62.1
3.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.7 $40.7
28.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$153 $153
-5.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,918 $2,918
-18.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,612 $2,612
-39.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,178 $4,178
14.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,156 $3,156
-10.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,459 $2,459
45.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,719 $2,719
-8.42%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Laguna Niguel, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,143 $4,143
27.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Laguna Niguel, CA: October 27, 2025

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