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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.3% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 32.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4.9% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 35.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.29 $25.29

-17.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.5 $99.5

0.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.3 $12.3

-2.68%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.68 $5.68

-2.11%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.88 $2.88

7.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.3 $2.3

5.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.59 $8.59

-20.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.32 $9.32

-9.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.18 $1.18

-11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.45 $4.45

-6.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.49 $4.49

22.94%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$7.19 $7.19

-35.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.47 $12.47

14.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.7 $13.7

8.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.46 $14.46

33.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.37 $5.37

-3.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.95 $1.95

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.97 $3.97

11.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.73 $5.73

-21.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.98 $2.98

-15.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.45 $2.45

11.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.82 $1.82

33.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.83 $10.83

40.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.28 $15.28

7.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.53 $2.53

-7.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.34 $5.34

-30.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$81.5 $81.5

-9.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.15 $3.15

6.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.08 $29.08

-12.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.24 $1.24

-12.90%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.8K $23.8K

35.96%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.86%

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

$188 $188

$190 $190

-0.76%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$58.4 $58.4

9.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67 $67

-2.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$122 $122

-37.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$44.73 $44.73

-70.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$18.03 $18.03

-17.19%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,791 $1,791

15.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.7K $14.7K

165.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$62.8 $62.8

2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.08 $34.08

53.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$102 $102

-6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$153 $153

-5.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,279 $3,279

-27.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,892 $2,892

-45.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$6,850 $6,850

-30.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$5,897 $5,897

-52.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$10.8K $10.8K

-66.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$8,171 $8,171

-69.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,229 $7,229

-27.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

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