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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30% more expensive than Monterey Park, CA without rent, and 2.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.1% more expensive than Monterey Park, CA without rent, and 8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.05 $25.05

-16.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$83.9 $83.9

19.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.91 $11.91

0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.13 $5.13

8.38%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.73 $2.73

13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.3 $2.3

5.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.88 $7.88

-12.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.04 $7.04

20.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.24 $1.24

-16.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.14 $4.14

0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.09 $4.09

34.96%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$7.16 $7.16

-35.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.64 $12.64

13.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.48 $8.48

75.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.25 $14.25

35.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.37 $3.37

53.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.89 $1.89

-9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.12 $4.12

7.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.11 $5.11

-11.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.08 $3.08

-17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.44 $2.44

12.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.91 $1.91

27.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.91 $10.91

39.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.94 $14.94

9.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.58 $2.58

-8.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.17 $3.17

16.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.12 $3.12

7.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.76 $29.76

-14.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

34.24%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.22%

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

$188 $188

$239 $239

-21.23%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$67.8 $67.8

-6.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69 $69

-5.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.56 $42.56

80.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.74 $13.74

8.66%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,189 $1,189

73.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

61.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.4 $56.4

14.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.23 $47.23

10.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$153 $153

-5.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,608 $1,608

47.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,520 $1,520

4.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,670 $2,670

78.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,684 $3,684

-23.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,512 $2,512

42.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,631 $2,631

-5.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,815 $2,815

87.38%

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 Monterey Park, CA: October 27, 2025

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