Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Concord, CA: $2,891 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

139

Cost of Living Index in Concord, CA
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Concord, CA Living Index
146

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

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Concord, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,891

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Concord, CA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Concord, CA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,891 per month in Concord, CA vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Concord, CA $2,891
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $4,258 per month in Concord, CA vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Concord, CA $4,258
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,625 per month in Concord, CA vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Concord, CA $5,625
Chicago, IL $6,019

Concord, CA is about 6% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Concord, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Concord, CA by 114%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.39 $25.39

$20.39 $20.39

24.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$88.6 $88.6

-11.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.79 $14.79

$12.85 $12.85

15.10%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.78 $5.78

1.04%

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

$3.15 $3.15

$2.74 $2.74

14.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.26 $2.26

14.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.90 $8.90

$6.88 $6.88

29.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$9.24 $9.24

-14.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.26 $1.26

3.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.55 $3.55

23.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.38 $5.38

-9.29%

Eggs

$5.28 $5.28

$4.55 $4.55

16.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.70 $24.70

$13.65 $13.65

80.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$14.07 $14.07

-16.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 $13.25

$18.06 $18.06

-26.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.16 $5.16

6.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.98 $1.98

25.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$3.88 $3.88

22.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.83 $4.83

18.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.81 $2.81

18.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.67 $2.67

43.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.07 $2.07

17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.03 $3.03

-12.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$13.90 $13.90

-16.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 $13.17

$15.05 $15.05

-12.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.63 $2.63

-23.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.45 $3.45

-28.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.43 $2.43

0.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 $60.5

$75.3 $75.3

-19.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.17 $3.17

11.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.70 $1.70

30.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

$24.90 $24.90

41.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.28 $1.28

19.53%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$35.8K $35.8K

-23.24%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

0.10%

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

$137 $137

$192 $192

-28.48%

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

$42.79 $42.79

$69.6 $69.6

-38.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.9 $63.9

$62.2 $62.2

2.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$47.79 $47.79

20.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 $11.36

$17.83 $17.83

-36.29%

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

$2,196 $2,196

$1,815 $1,815

21.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.6K $19.6K

$40.6K $40.6K

-51.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 $52.4

$66.2 $66.2

-20.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.36 $40.36

$51.4 $51.4

-21.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$103 $103

-27.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 $59.7

$143 $143

-58.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,220 $2,220

$2,531 $2,531

-12.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,518 $1,518

$1,621 $1,621

-6.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,428 $4,428

$4,828 $4,828

-8.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,512 $2,512

$2,734 $2,734

-8.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,191 $4,191

$4,163 $4,163

0.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,198 $4,198

$2,723 $2,723

54.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,027 $5,027

$4,924 $4,924

2.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

6.78

-1.77%

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

Last update for Concord, CA: November 3, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Concord, CA

$1.5K 52.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 6.8% $103

Groceries & Markets

Concord, CA

$461 15.9%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 4.7% $21

Eating Out

Concord, CA

$401 13.9%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 14.1% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Concord, CA

$244 8.4%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 32.7% $80

Clothing & Footwear

Concord, CA

$102 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 59.9% $61

Getting Around

Concord, CA

$85 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 13.8% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Concord, CA

$80 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 3.8% $3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,220 in Concord, CA versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. 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 $79 in Concord, CA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $461 in Concord, CA vs $439 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Concord, CA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

02:33 2:33 AM

04:33 4:33 AM

2 h ahead of Concord, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

42,695

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Concord, CA Chicago, IL 2,950 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Concord, CA
Chicago, IL

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,891 in Concord, CA, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Concord, CA comes out roughly 6% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,336 per month in Concord, CA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Concord, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,220 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

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

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

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,891 in Concord, CA to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.