Cost of Living Comparison Between Dana Point, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Dana Point, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,365 per month in Dana Point, CA vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,978 per month in Dana Point, CA vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,591 per month in Dana Point, CA vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Dana Point, CA costs about 41% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Dana Point, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Dana Point, CA by 218%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.54 $24.54

$19.86 $19.86

23.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.3 $88.3

13.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.23 $13.23

8.31%

Cappuccino

$6.51 $6.51

$5.86 $5.86

11.09%

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

$3.31 $3.31

$2.61 $2.61

26.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.32 $2.32

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.03 $7.03

15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.25 $9.25

6.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.34 $1.34

-1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.19 $4.19

28.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$5.50 $5.50

-14.73%

Eggs

$3.96 $3.96

$4.71 $4.71

-15.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.72 $14.72

3.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

$14.53 $14.53

-9.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$19.69 $19.69

-20.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$5.64 $5.64

-16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.97 $1.97

-2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.04 $4.04

-12.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.07 $5.07

-2.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.94 $2.94

1.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.92 $2.92

-3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.28 $2.28

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.12 $3.12

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.77 $11.77

$16.19 $16.19

-27.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 $17.95

$15.17 $15.17

18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.67 $2.67

-16.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.48 $3.48

-10.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.54 $2.54

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.16 $3.16

-3.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.37 $1.37

51.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.99 $27.99

$22.66 $22.66

23.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.20 $1.20

9.17%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$37.0K $37.0K

-12.43%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.76%

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

$237 $237

$190 $190

24.81%

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

$71.4 $71.4

$68.5 $68.5

4.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.0 $81.0

$61.1 $61.1

32.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 $41.57

$63.8 $63.8

-34.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$27.80 $27.80

-28.99%

Cinema Ticket

$19.80 $19.80

$18.28 $18.28

8.32%

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

$1,859 $1,859

$1,525 $1,525

21.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.5K $34.5K

$32.0K $32.0K

7.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 $66.8

$64.0 $64.0

4.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$54.4 $54.4

-4.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$101 $101

13.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$153 $153

-1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,054 $3,054

$2,421 $2,421

26.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,825 $2,825

$1,690 $1,690

67.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,169 $5,169

$4,584 $4,584

12.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,210 $4,210

$2,782 $2,782

51.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,720 $2,720

$4,170 $4,170

-34.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,361 $2,361

$2,739 $2,739

-13.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,533 $7,533

$4,777 $4,777

57.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.41

6.38

0.47%

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

Last update for Dana Point, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,054 in Dana Point, 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 58% higher in Dana Point, 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 $100 in Dana Point, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $437 in Dana Point, CA vs $465 in Chicago, IL – so Dana Point, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $4,365 in Dana Point, CA, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 41% apart. Dana Point, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,548 per month in Dana Point, 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Dana Point, CA and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Dana Point, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,365 in Dana Point, 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. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $4,365 in Dana Point, 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, Dana Point, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.