Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,072 a month against $3,540 in Monterey, CA, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Monterey, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
169

Cost of Living Index in Monterey, CA
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Monterey, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monterey, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,540

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,540 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Monterey, CA $3,540

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,060 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Monterey, CA $5,060

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,580 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Monterey, CA $6,580

Chicago, IL is about 13% cheaper than Monterey, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Chicago, IL and Monterey, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Monterey, CA by 162%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.08 $20.08

1.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$80.3 $80.3

10.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.07 $12.07

6.46%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.29 $5.29

9.26%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.11 $3.11

-11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.71 $1.71

32.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.81 $7.81

-11.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$5.88 $5.88

57.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.73 $1.73

-27.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.00 $3.00

18.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.52 $2.52

113.49%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.63 $4.63

-1.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$9.14 $9.14

49.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$13.08 $13.08

7.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$5.97 $5.97

202.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.50 $3.50

47.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.15 $1.15

72.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.30 $3.30

17.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.97 $3.97

21.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.72 $2.72

3.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.95 $1.95

36.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.82 $1.82

13.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.25 $1.25

142.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.72 $11.72

18.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$17.32 $17.32

-13.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.67 $2.67

-1.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$1.90 $1.90

81.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$70.5 $70.5

6.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.61 $2.61

21.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.22 $2.22

-23.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$34.65 $34.65

-28.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.51 $1.51

-15.23%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$28.8K $28.8K

24.27%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.38%

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

$192 $192

$236 $236

-18.58%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$77.2 $77.2

-9.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$74.3 $74.3

-16.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$89.4 $89.4

-46.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$10.41 $10.41

160.33%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$13.24 $13.24

34.67%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$567 $567

220.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$33.4K $33.4K

21.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$78.0 $78.0

-15.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$90.6 $90.6

-43.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$131 $131

-20.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$135 $135

5.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$2,574 $2,574

-1.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$2,088 $2,088

-22.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$3,931 $3,931

22.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$3,441 $3,441

-20.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$9,943 $9,943

-58.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$7,551 $7,551

-63.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$4,267 $4,267

15.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.62

2.42%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Monterey, CA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Monterey, CA

$2.1K 59% 28.8% $467

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Monterey, CA

$330 9.3% 24.8% $109

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Monterey, CA

$330 9.3% 4% $14

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Monterey, CA

$387 10.9% 19.6% $64

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Monterey, CA

$196 5.5% 19.6% $32

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Monterey, CA

$92 2.6% 4.8% $4.6

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Monterey, CA

$116 3.3% 38.9% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $2,574 in Monterey, 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 15% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $80 in Monterey, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $330 – making Monterey, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Monterey, CA

🕒 Local time

07:36 7:36 AM

05:36 5:36 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

28,803

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Monterey, CA 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $3,540 in Monterey, CA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 13% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,309 in Monterey, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,531 in Chicago, IL and $2,574 in Monterey, CA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Monterey, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $80 in Monterey, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $3,540 in Monterey, 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL to $3,540 in Monterey, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.