Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Hollywood, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,199 in West Hollywood, CA, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in West Hollywood, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in West Hollywood, CA
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West Hollywood, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

West Hollywood, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,199

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,199 in West Hollywood, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
West Hollywood, CA $3,199

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,138 in West Hollywood, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
West Hollywood, CA $5,138

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $7,078 in West Hollywood, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
West Hollywood, CA $7,078

Chicago, IL is about 5% cheaper than West Hollywood, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and West Hollywood, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, West Hollywood, CA by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$24.68 $24.68

-16.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$101 $101

-11.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$14.87 $14.87

-11.30%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.80 $5.80

-2.41%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.16 $3.16

-16.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.44 $2.44

-6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.21 $7.21

-4.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.98 $9.98

-11.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.29 $1.29

-3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.90 $4.90

-24.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.70 $4.70

14.68%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.57 $5.57

-14.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.33 $11.33

22.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.03 $9.03

59.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$19.99 $19.99

-8.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.86 $4.86

7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.31 $2.31

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.97 $3.97

2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.44 $5.44

-8.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.29 $3.29

-18.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.79 $2.79

-4.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.91 $1.91

17.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.45 $2.45

27.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.67 $11.67

18.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.49 $2.49

2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.78 $2.78

26.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.03 $3.03

4.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.89 $1.89

-26.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$32.27 $32.27

-22.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.64 $1.64

-26.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.1K $29.1K

20.32%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.8K $26.8K

-0.30%

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

$194 $194

$213 $213

-8.90%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$76.1 $76.1

-8.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$72.6 $72.6

-15.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$18.86 $18.86

-5.57%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,192 $1,192

50.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

0.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$63.2 $63.2

6.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$47.24 $47.24

10.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$105 $105

-3.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$102 $102

40.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$3,092 $3,092

-18.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,830 $1,830

-13.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$6,118 $6,118

-22.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,954 $3,954

-31.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$996 $996

320.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,566 $6,566

-24.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.31

7.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for West Hollywood, CA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

West Hollywood, CA

$1.8K 57.2% 16% $252

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

West Hollywood, CA

$424 13.2% 5.3% $24

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

West Hollywood, CA

$390 12.2% 13.1% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

West Hollywood, CA

$362 11.3% 11.3% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

West Hollywood, CA

$143 4.5% 12.8% $21

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

West Hollywood, CA

$12 * 0.4% 86.7% $81

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

West Hollywood, CA

$38 * 1.2% 54.8% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $3,092 in West Hollywood, 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 33% higher in West Hollywood, CA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in West Hollywood, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $424 in West Hollywood, CA – so West Hollywood, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 West Hollywood, CA

🕒 Local time

22:49 10:49 PM

20:49 8:49 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

34,399

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL West Hollywood, CA 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,199 in West Hollywood, CA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 5% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,798 in West Hollywood, 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,526 there versus $3,092 in West Hollywood, CA.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $101 in West Hollywood, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in West Hollywood, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,199 in West Hollywood, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chicago, IL costs $3,037 versus $3,199 in West Hollywood, CA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, West Hollywood, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.