Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,022 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,693 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,365 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 29% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Costa Mesa, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Costa Mesa, CA by 193%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$19.86 $19.86

27.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$88.3 $88.3

12.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.59 $11.59

$13.23 $13.23

-12.40%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.86 $5.86

-1.54%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.61 $2.61

29.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.32 $2.32

14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.03 $7.03

15.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.96 $8.96

$9.25 $9.25

-3.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.34 $1.34

8.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.19 $4.19

7.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.50 $5.50

-19.82%

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$4.71 $4.71

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$14.72 $14.72

-13.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.41 $14.41

$14.53 $14.53

-0.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$19.69 $19.69

-27.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$5.64 $5.64

-3.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.97 $1.97

12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.04 $4.04

6.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.07 $5.07

31.16%

Potato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.94 $2.94

47.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.92 $2.92

20.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.28 $2.28

33.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.12 $3.12

-28.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 $11.68

$16.19 $16.19

-27.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$15.17 $15.17

-1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.67 $2.67

-21.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.48 $3.48

-33.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.54 $2.54

-20.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.2 $70.2

$76.0 $76.0

-7.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.16 $3.16

-6.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.37 $1.37

38.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.43 $36.43

$22.66 $22.66

60.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.20 $1.20

14.17%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$37.0K $37.0K

-0.38%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.70%

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

$257 $257

$190 $190

35.78%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$68.5 $68.5

2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.0 $72.0

$61.1 $61.1

17.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.86 $39.86

$63.8 $63.8

-37.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 $11.88

$27.80 $27.80

-57.27%

Cinema Ticket

$13.88 $13.88

$18.28 $18.28

-24.07%

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

$1,789 $1,789

$1,525 $1,525

17.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.2K $37.2K

$32.0K $32.0K

16.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$64.0 $64.0

13.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.59 $45.59

$54.4 $54.4

-16.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 $81.3

$101 $101

-19.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$153 $153

-16.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,421 $2,421

10.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$1,690 $1,690

46.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,161 $4,161

$4,584 $4,584

-9.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,846 $3,846

$2,782 $2,782

38.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,479 $9,479

$4,170 $4,170

127.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,162 $7,162

$2,739 $2,739

161.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,310 $6,310

$4,777 $4,777

32.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.38

-2.19%

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

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,680 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $2,421 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.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Costa Mesa, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $445 in Costa Mesa, CA vs $465 in Chicago, IL – so Costa Mesa, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $4,022 in Costa Mesa, CA, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 29% apart. Costa Mesa, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,033 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Costa Mesa, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Costa Mesa, CA and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,022 in Costa Mesa, CA and $3,106 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Costa Mesa, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $4,022 in Costa Mesa, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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