Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Mission Viejo, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $3,984 in Mission Viejo, CA, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Mission Viejo, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
194

Cost of Living Index in Mission Viejo, CA
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Mission Viejo, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Mission Viejo, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,984

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,984 in Mission Viejo, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Mission Viejo, CA $3,984

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,862 in Mission Viejo, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Mission Viejo, CA $4,862

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,741 in Mission Viejo, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Mission Viejo, CA $5,741

Chicago, IL is about 21% cheaper than Mission Viejo, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Mission Viejo, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Mission Viejo, CA by 194%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$21.20 $21.20

-2.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$75.2 $75.2

20.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.06 $10.06

28.63%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.46 $5.46

2.56%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.06 $2.06

28.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.53 $1.53

48.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.14 $5.14

35.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$5.72 $5.72

54.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.08 $1.08

17.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.97 $3.97

-4.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.96 $1.96

170.41%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.54 $4.54

4.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$13.87 $13.87

0.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$13.60 $13.60

7.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$12.44 $12.44

50.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.05 $5.05

2.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.56 $1.56

26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.91 $2.91

35.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.79 $4.79

3.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.14 $2.14

28.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.35 $4.35

-36.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.05 $2.05

8.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.27 $2.27

31.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.56 $11.56

21.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.64 $13.64

12.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.65 $1.65

56.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.67 $2.67

31.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.06 $2.06

19.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.48 $3.48

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.90 $1.90

-24.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$23.61 $23.61

3.01%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

15.25%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.65%

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

$193 $193

$244 $244

-21.17%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$79.8 $79.8

-14.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$65.5 $65.5

-6.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$39.75 $39.75

36.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$11.80 $11.80

50.34%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$551 $551

199.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$8,298 $8,298

274.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$31.68 $31.68

108.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.66 $34.66

47.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$72.1 $72.1

38.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$138 $138

2.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,653 $2,653

-7.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$2,683 $2,683

-37.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$3,774 $3,774

25.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,907 $2,907

-3.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$7,598 $7,598

-45.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$5,292 $5,292

-49.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,808 $5,808

-16.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.68

1.95%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Mission Viejo, 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%

Mission Viejo, CA

$2.7K 67.4% 59.9% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Mission Viejo, CA

$385 9.7% 14.3% $64

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Mission Viejo, CA

$317 8% 7.8% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Mission Viejo, CA

$390 9.8% 20.9% $67

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Mission Viejo, CA

$124 3.1% 23% $37

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Mission Viejo, CA

$21 * 0.5% 77.7% $74

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Mission Viejo, CA

$63 1.6% 29.3% $26

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 $2,653 in Mission Viejo, 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 19% higher in Mission Viejo, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Mission Viejo, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $385 – making Mission Viejo, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Mission Viejo, CA

🕒 Local time

03:47 3:47 AM

01:47 1:47 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

97,156

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Mission Viejo, CA 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $3,984 in Mission Viejo, CA – roughly 27% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,975 in Mission Viejo, 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Mission Viejo, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Mission Viejo, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $3,984 in Mission Viejo, 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 $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,984 in Mission Viejo, 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, Mission Viejo, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.