Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Weed, CA: $2,672 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Weed, CA
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Weed, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Weed, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,672

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,672 in Weed, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Weed, CA $2,672

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,027 in Weed, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Weed, CA $4,027

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,381 in Weed, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Weed, CA $5,381

Chicago, IL costs about 15% more than Weed, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Weed, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Weed, CA by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$21.38 $21.38

-4.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$91.4 $91.4

-3.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.39 $10.39

23.68%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.39 $5.39

7.24%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.48 $2.48

10.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.77 $1.77

27.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.34 $6.34

8.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.77 $7.77

18.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.90 $0.90

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.73 $3.73

-4.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.09 $5.09

5.70%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.49 $5.49

-17.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$17.70 $17.70

-22.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$11.02 $11.02

27.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$17.39 $17.39

3.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$6.33 $6.33

-18.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.78 $1.78

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.50 $6.50

-40.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.30 $5.30

-8.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.82 $1.82

54.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.38 $3.38

-21.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.73 $2.73

-24.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.57 $1.57

92.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.56 $11.56

20.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.14 $11.14

35.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.69 $1.69

55.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$4.06 $4.06

-15.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$66.1 $66.1

13.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$4.05 $4.05

-21.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.45 $2.45

-30.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$45.16 $45.16

-44.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.26 $1.26

1.59%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$28.3K $28.3K

26.39%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

10.83%

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

$192 $192

$148 $148

29.72%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$74.5 $74.5

-6.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$76.8 $76.8

-18.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$43.40 $43.40

10.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.90 $14.90

19.66%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,139 $1,139

59.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$19.7K $19.7K

105.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$62.6 $62.6

5.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$73.3 $73.3

-29.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$80.3 $80.3

28.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$121 $121

17.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,608 $1,608

57.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,302 $1,302

24.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,520 $2,520

91.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,218 $2,218

23.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$3,149 $3,149

32.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,538 $2,538

7.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

13.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Weed, CA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Weed, CA

$1.3K 48.7% 19.7% $319

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Weed, CA

$425 15.9% 3.3% $15

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Weed, CA

$331 12.4% 3.8% $13

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Weed, CA

$299 11.2% 7.6% $25

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Weed, CA

$152 5.7% 7.1% $12

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Weed, CA

$90 3.4% 6.7% $6.4

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Weed, CA

$73 2.7% 12.3% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,608 in Weed, 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 $91 in Weed, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Chicago, IL vs $425 in Weed, CA – so Weed, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Weed, CA

🕒 Local time

10:06 10:06 AM

08:06 8:06 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

2,900

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Weed, CA 2,870 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,672 in Weed, CA – Weed, CA comes out roughly 13% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,008 in Weed, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Weed, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,608 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Weed, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,672 in Weed, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Weed, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.