Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palm Desert, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palm Desert, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.2% more expensive than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 22.3% more expensive than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.92 $17.92

16.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.3 $81.3

23.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.7 $11.7

2.31%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.1 $5.1

9.02%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.65 $3.65

-14.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.2 $2.2

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.13 $7.13

-3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.04 $8.04

5.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.17 $1.17

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.13 $4.13

0.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.61 $4.61

19.74%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.9 $3.9

19.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.15 $11.15

28.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.92 $15.92

-6.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.21 $15.21

27.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.49 $4.49

15.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.55 $1.55

10.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.87 $4.87

-9.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.68 $5.68

-20.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.23 $3.23

-21.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.19 $2.19

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.21 $11.21

35.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.31 $13.31

23.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.94 $1.94

21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.52 $3.52

5.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.5 $6.5

-48.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.83 $28.83

-11.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

28.13%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.4K $28.4K

-7.71%

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

$188 $188

$158 $158

19.30%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.1 $54.1

17.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58 $58

12.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.99 $42.99

78.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.05 $13.05

14.41%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,514 $1,514

36.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

65.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.95 $46.95

36.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$29.73 $29.73

76.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$60.6 $60.6

57.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$60.8 $60.8

137.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,512 $2,512

-5.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,028 $2,028

-21.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,145 $3,145

51.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,960 $2,960

-4.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,175 $3,175

12.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,404 $2,404

3.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,157 $5,157

2.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.64

-0.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States