Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Santa Clarita, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Santa Clarita, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,713 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,979 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,244 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 14% cheaper than Santa Clarita, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Santa Clarita, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Santa Clarita, CA by 169%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.10 $20.10

0.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$100 $100

-11.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$13.56 $13.56

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.95 $5.95

-3.03%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.05 $3.05

-13.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.64 $2.64

-11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.06 $8.06

-12.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.77 $8.77

4.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.17 $1.17

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.87 $3.87

4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.73 $4.73

20.30%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.03 $5.03

-3.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$17.28 $17.28

-12.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$8.08 $8.08

84.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$16.70 $16.70

15.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.57 $4.57

24.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.91 $1.91

1.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.97 $2.97

38.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.97 $2.97

72.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.27 $3.27

-10.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.64 $2.64

4.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.15 $2.15

6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.13 $2.13

42.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$11.75 $11.75

35.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$16.27 $16.27

-7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.71 $1.71

47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.23 $3.23

7.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.54 $2.54

-0.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$26.74 $26.74

179.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.06 $3.06

7.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.08 $2.08

-34.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$27.90 $27.90

-19.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.24 $1.24

-1.61%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$23.7K $23.7K

52.59%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.16%

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

$188 $188

$250 $250

-24.51%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$56.4 $56.4

22.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$83.6 $83.6

-24.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$36.62 $36.62

73.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$25.49 $25.49

6.36%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$16.80 $16.80

6.55%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,987 $1,987

-23.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

-10.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$69.0 $69.0

-9.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$27.67 $27.67

103.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$71.5 $71.5

41.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$108 $108

44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$2,955 $2,955

-20.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$2,278 $2,278

-25.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$3,961 $3,961

15.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$3,166 $3,166

-11.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,725 $3,725

10.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$4,371 $4,371

-37.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$5,135 $5,135

-4.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.13

4.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $2,955 in Santa Clarita, 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 5% higher in Santa Clarita, 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Santa Clarita, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $390 in Santa Clarita, CA – so Santa Clarita, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Santa Clarita, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $3,713 in Santa Clarita, CA – roughly 17% apart. Santa Clarita, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,570 in Santa Clarita, 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Santa Clarita, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Santa Clarita, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $3,713 in Santa Clarita, 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 $3,184 in Chicago, IL to $3,713 in Santa Clarita, 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, Santa Clarita, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.