Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Newport Beach, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $5,194 in Newport Beach, CA, rent and utilities included – about $24,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Newport Beach, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
250

Cost of Living Index in Newport Beach, CA
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Newport Beach, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Newport Beach, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$5,194

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,194 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Newport Beach, CA $5,194

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $7,405 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Newport Beach, CA $7,405

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $9,616 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Newport Beach, CA $9,616

Chicago, IL is about 40% cheaper than Newport Beach, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Newport Beach, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Newport Beach, CA by 283%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$25.31 $25.31

-18.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$101 $101

-10.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$14.69 $14.69

-11.91%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.56 $5.56

0.72%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.19 $3.19

-17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.34 $2.34

-2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$7.26 $7.26

-3.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$9.44 $9.44

-6.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$5.86 $5.86

-35.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.29 $4.29

23.54%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$5.19 $5.19

-8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.40 $12.40

12.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.06 $9.06

61.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$13.72 $13.72

36.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.67 $4.67

11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.78 $1.78

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.98 $3.98

-1.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.53 $5.53

-10.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.57 $3.57

-22.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.18 $3.18

-13.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.09 $2.09

6.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.28 $2.28

30.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.65 $11.65

20.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.26 $15.26

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.74 $1.74

48.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.11 $3.11

12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.61 $4.61

-27.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.90 $1.90

-24.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$35.86 $35.86

-32.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.51 $1.51

-16.56%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

27.50%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.82%

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

$193 $193

$217 $217

-11.21%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$80.8 $80.8

-15.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$71.3 $71.3

-14.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$117 $117

-53.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$27.93 $27.93

-0.04%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$19.84 $19.84

-10.58%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,755 $1,755

-5.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$35.4K $35.4K

-12.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$63.7 $63.7

3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$40.71 $40.71

25.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$78.7 $78.7

27.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$101 $101

39.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$4,333 $4,333

-43.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$3,727 $3,727

-54.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$7,144 $7,144

-33.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$6,280 $6,280

-55.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$16.0K $16.0K

-74.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$16.1K $16.1K

-83.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$6,382 $6,382

-23.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.45

5.58%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Newport Beach, CA: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Newport Beach, CA

$3.7K 71.8% 122% $2K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Newport Beach, CA

$409 7.9% 9.1% $41

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Newport Beach, CA

$391 7.5% 13.7% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Newport Beach, CA

$369 7.1% 14.6% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Newport Beach, CA

$128 2.5% 20.6% $33

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Newport Beach, CA

$14 * 0.3% 85.1% $81

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Newport Beach, CA

$157 3% 75.2% $67

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 $4,333 in Newport Beach, 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 31% higher in Newport Beach, 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 $101 in Newport Beach, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $409 in Newport Beach, CA – so Newport Beach, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Newport Beach, CA

🕒 Local time

09:24 9:24 AM

07:24 7:24 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

85,186

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Newport Beach, CA 2,800 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $5,194 in Newport Beach, CA – roughly 65% 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 $7,791 in Newport Beach, 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 $101 in Newport Beach, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Newport Beach, 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 $5,194 in Newport Beach, 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 $5,194 in Newport Beach, 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, Newport Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.