Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Yorba Linda, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Yorba Linda, CA: $2,806 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 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
129

Cost of Living Index in Yorba Linda, CA
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Yorba Linda, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Yorba Linda, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,806

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,806 in Yorba Linda, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Yorba Linda, CA $2,806

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,925 in Yorba Linda, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Yorba Linda, CA $3,925

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,043 in Yorba Linda, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Yorba Linda, CA $5,043

Chicago, IL costs about 9% more than Yorba Linda, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Yorba Linda, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Yorba Linda, CA by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$24.92 $24.92

-18.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$79.0 $79.0

12.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.67 $11.67

10.11%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.56 $5.56

3.96%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.69 $2.69

1.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.98 $1.98

14.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.45 $7.45

-7.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$10.11 $10.11

-8.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.19 $1.19

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$5.28 $5.28

-32.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.39 $4.39

22.55%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.93 $4.93

-7.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$12.20 $12.20

11.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$9.01 $9.01

56.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$14.02 $14.02

28.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.68 $4.68

10.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.73 $1.73

14.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.07 $4.07

-4.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.50 $5.50

-12.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.49 $3.49

-19.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.06 $3.06

-12.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.08 $2.08

-0.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.30 $2.30

31.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.67 $11.67

19.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.08 $15.08

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.76 $1.76

49.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.66 $3.66

-5.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$61.0 $61.0

23.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$4.48 $4.48

-29.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.83 $1.83

-7.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$36.33 $36.33

-31.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.51 $1.51

-15.23%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.9K $27.9K

28.06%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.87%

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

$192 $192

$218 $218

-12.03%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$69.9 $69.9

-0.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$69.0 $69.0

-9.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$38.00 $38.00

25.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$11.90 $11.90

49.83%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,927 $1,927

-5.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$12.5K $12.5K

225.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$63.6 $63.6

4.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$41.15 $41.15

24.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$80.9 $80.9

27.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$102 $102

40.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,563 $1,563

61.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,396 $1,396

16.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,203 $2,203

119.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,955 $1,955

39.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,743 $2,743

51.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$1,997 $1,997

36.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$7,311 $7,311

-32.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.31

7.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Yorba Linda, 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%

Yorba Linda, CA

$1.4K 49.8% 13.9% $225

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Yorba Linda, CA

$402 14.3% 8.5% $37

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Yorba Linda, CA

$377 13.4% 9.7% $33

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Yorba Linda, CA

$357 12.7% 10.3% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Yorba Linda, CA

$129 4.6% 21% $34

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Yorba Linda, CA

$83 2.9% 14.6% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Yorba Linda, CA

$62 2.2% 25.9% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,563 in Yorba Linda, 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 48% higher in Yorba Linda, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $79 in Yorba Linda, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $402 – making Yorba Linda, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Yorba Linda, CA

🕒 Local time

11:43 11:43 AM

09:43 9:43 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

65,314

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Yorba Linda, CA 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,806 in Yorba Linda, CA – Yorba Linda, CA comes out roughly 9% 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 $4,209 in Yorba Linda, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yorba Linda, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,563 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $79 in Yorba Linda, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,806 in Yorba Linda, 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 $2,806 in Yorba Linda, CA to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

For expats, Yorba Linda, CA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 9% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.