Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Palm Springs, CA: $2,804 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
134

Cost of Living Index in Palm Springs, CA
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Palm Springs, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Palm Springs, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,804

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,804 in Palm Springs, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Palm Springs, CA $2,804

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,462 in Palm Springs, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Palm Springs, CA $4,462

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,120 in Palm Springs, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Palm Springs, CA $6,120

Chicago, IL costs about 8% more than Palm Springs, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Palm Springs, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Palm Springs, CA by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$30.21 $30.21

-31.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$73.6 $73.6

21.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.83 $9.83

34.18%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.31 $5.31

6.59%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.77 $2.77

-4.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.57 $1.57

45.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.96 $4.96

38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.60 $5.60

57.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.35 $1.35

-7.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.01 $4.01

-7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.96 $2.96

82.09%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.64 $5.64

-15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$13.91 $13.91

-0.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.85 $13.85

3.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.34 $12.34

48.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.01 $5.01

4.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.14 $2.14

-7.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.52 $4.52

-10.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.05 $5.05

-1.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.59 $4.59

-41.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.26 $4.26

-37.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.17 $2.17

3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.19 $2.19

42.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.80 $11.80

17.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.53 $13.53

9.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.65 $1.65

53.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.78 $2.78

26.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.03 $1.03

135.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$33.71 $33.71

118.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.47 $3.47

-8.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.81 $1.81

-23.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$23.64 $23.64

5.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.37 $1.37

-12.41%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.3K $30.3K

15.52%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.62%

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

$194 $194

$243 $243

-20.05%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$81.6 $81.6

-14.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$66.5 $66.5

-7.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$32.81 $32.81

45.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$49.68 $49.68

-44.97%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.07 $12.07

47.56%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$556 $556

222.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$8,546 $8,546

273.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$31.48 $31.48

112.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$34.67 $34.67

50.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$72.4 $72.4

40.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$138 $138

3.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,961 $1,961

28.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,378 $1,378

14.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,450 $3,450

37.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,963 $2,963

-9.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$5,132 $5,132

-18.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,464 $3,464

-20.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,839 $4,839

1.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.68

1.95%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Palm Springs, CA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Palm Springs, CA

$1.4K 49.1% 12.7% $200

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Palm Springs, CA

$415 14.8% 7.2% $32

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Palm Springs, CA

$388 13.8% 12.5% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Palm Springs, CA

$391 14% 20.2% $66

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Palm Springs, CA

$125 4.4% 24% $39

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Palm Springs, CA

$50 1.8% 46.1% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Palm Springs, CA

$57 2% 31.8% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,961 in Palm Springs, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $74 in Palm Springs, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $415 – making Palm Springs, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Palm Springs, CA

🕒 Local time

21:14 9:14 PM

19:14 7:14 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

44,575

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Palm Springs, CA 2,680 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,804 in Palm Springs, CA – Palm Springs, CA comes out roughly 8% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,206 in Palm Springs, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palm Springs, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,961 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $74 in Palm Springs, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,804 in Palm Springs, 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 $2,804 in Palm Springs, CA to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

For expats, Palm Springs, CA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 8% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.