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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.6% more expensive than Palmdale, CA without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2% more expensive than Palmdale, CA without rent, and 10% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.61 $24.61
-15.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74 $74
35.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.19 $10.19
17.47%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.69 $5.69
-2.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.61 $2.61
19.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.53 $1.53
58.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.83 $7.83
-12.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.53 $5.53
52.80%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.43 $4.43
-6.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.26 $4.26
29.58%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.58 $4.58
1.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.27 $12.27
16.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.54 $11.54
28.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.47 $14.47
33.66%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.86 $5.86
-11.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.45 $1.45
17.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.96 $3.96
11.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.08 $4.08
10.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.06 $3.06
-17.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.89 $2.89
-5.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2 $2
21.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2 $2
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.62 $10.62
43.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.19 $12.19
34.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.53 $2.53
46.25%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.17 $3.17
-20.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$50.3 $50.3
47.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.89 $3.89
-14.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.01 $2.01
-29.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$53.2 $53.2
-52.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.21 $1.21
-10.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.1K $29.1K
11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25K $25K
4.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$194 $194
-3.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.3 $53.3
19.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.2 $71.2
-8.36%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$32.92 $32.92
133.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$74.3 $74.3
-82.47%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.22 $14.22
4.99%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$397 $397
419.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$7,942 $7,942
393.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$59.4 $59.4
8.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.29 $40.29
30.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$78 $78
22.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$119 $119
21.11%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,717 $1,717
38.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,417 $1,417
11.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,219 $3,219
47.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,555 $2,555
10.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,920 $3,920
-8.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,463 $3,463
-28.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Palmdale, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,392 $4,392
20.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Palmdale, CA: October 28, 2025

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