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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.8% cheaper than Torrance, CA without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23.4% more expensive than Torrance, CA without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.2 $20.2
3.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$86.1 $86.1
16.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.25 $14.25
-16.00%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.8 $5.8
-4.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.93 $2.93
6.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.11 $2.11
14.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.2 $8.2
-16.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.88 $9.88
-14.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.23 $1.23
-15.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.26 $4.26
-2.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.99 $5.99
-7.85%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.87 $6.87
-32.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.62 $12.62
13.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.75 $16.75
-11.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.67 $16.67
16.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.88 $5.88
-12.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.97 $1.97
-13.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.3 $4.3
2.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.08 $5.08
-11.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.44 $3.44
-26.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.3 $3.3
-16.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.93 $1.93
25.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.16 $2.16
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.57 $11.57
31.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.96 $10.96
49.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.51 $2.51
-6.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.14 $3.14
17.83%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.78 $1.78
42.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$45.88 $45.88
61.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.09 $3.09
8.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.71 $29.71
-14.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.3 $1.3
-16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.9K $31.9K
1.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.38%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$280 $280
-32.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$66.8 $66.8
-4.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$59.2 $59.2
10.08%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$49.03 $49.03
56.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.94 $13.94
7.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,766 $1,766
16.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.2K $15.2K
156.96%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$62.2 $62.2
3.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.16 $46.16
13.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$101 $101
-6.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$150 $150
-3.64%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,813 $2,813
-15.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,088 $2,088
-24.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,144 $4,144
14.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,999 $3,999
-29.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$7,426 $7,426
-51.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$6,389 $6,389
-61.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Torrance, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,908 $5,908
-10.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.58
0.30%

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 Torrance, CA: October 28, 2025

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