Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Long Beach, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Long Beach, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,537 in Long Beach, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,850 in Long Beach, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,163 in Long Beach, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Long Beach, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Long Beach, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Long Beach, NY by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.29 $20.29

3.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$98.2 $98.2

-0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.88 $11.88

-0.17%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.31 $5.31

5.46%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.45 $2.45

25.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.54 $1.54

60.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.80 $6.80

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.23 $8.23

-1.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.32 $1.32

-20.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.80 $3.80

8.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.35 $5.35

4.86%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$6.81 $6.81

-33.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$14.07 $14.07

1.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.88 $11.88

25.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$16.92 $16.92

13.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.01 $5.01

2.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.78 $1.78

-0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.04 $4.04

8.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.11 $4.11

10.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.87 $2.87

-11.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.66 $2.66

3.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.38 $2.38

1.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.61 $2.61

0.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$12.13 $12.13

23.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.22 $15.22

-2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.75 $1.75

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.33 $4.33

-13.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.06 $2.06

20.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.93 $2.93

8.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.35 $24.35

2.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.94 $0.94

12.77%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.1K $28.1K

13.63%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.56%

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

$185 $185

$124 $124

49.07%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$45.74 $45.74

34.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$58.7 $58.7

13.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.49 $43.49

72.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$16.88 $16.88

-12.86%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,737 $1,737

16.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.3K $16.3K

142.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.03 $49.03

31.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$62.6 $62.6

-16.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$74.9 $74.9

30.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$97.9 $97.9

50.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,628 $1,628

42.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,366 $1,366

16.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,590 $2,590

77.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,264 $2,264

22.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,765 $2,765

41.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,084 $2,084

25.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Long Beach, NY: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,628 in Long Beach, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $98.0 in Long Beach, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $427 in Long Beach, NY – so Long Beach, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Long Beach, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,537 in Long Beach, NY – roughly 21% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,806 in Long Beach, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Beach, NY, 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $98.0 in Long Beach, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,537 in Long Beach, NY. 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 $2,537 in Long Beach, NY to $3,077 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 Long Beach, NY. 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.