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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 44.9% more expensive than Monrovia, CA without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 59.8% more expensive than Monrovia, CA without rent, and 34.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.1 $15.1

37.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$35.42 $35.42

183.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.07 $10.07

18.87%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.04 $5.04

10.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.05 $2.05

51.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.05 $2.05

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.13 $8.13

-15.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.94 $8.94

-5.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.6 $5.6

-25.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.52 $4.52

22.12%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.56 $4.56

1.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.17 $11.17

28.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$4.36 $4.36

241.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.37 $14.37

34.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.32 $6.32

-18.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.83 $1.83

-6.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.18 $2.18

102.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.26 $2.26

99.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.16 $2.16

17.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.23 $2.23

22.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.03 $1.03

162.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.65 $9.65

57.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$10.05 $10.05

63.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.64 $4.64

-20.26%

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

$20.36 $20.36

264.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.07 $4.07

-17.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.78 $2.78

-48.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$31.8 $31.8

-20.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.3 $1.3

-16.92%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$22.4K $22.4K

44.54%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22K $22K

19.01%

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

$188 $188

$205 $205

-8.01%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55.3 $55.3

15.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$50.3 $50.3

29.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.37 $43.37

76.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.2 $14.2

5.14%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,834 $1,834

12.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$40.5K $40.5K

-3.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$14.83 $14.83

333.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.11 $41.11

27.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$75.9 $75.9

25.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$158 $158

-8.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,578 $1,578

50.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,346 $1,346

17.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,662 $2,662

78.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,238 $2,238

25.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,038 $3,038

18.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,472 $2,472

0.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,026 $6,026

-12.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.69

-1.35%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Monrovia, CA: October 29, 2025

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