🙂A single person spends $2,608 per month in Garden Grove, CA vs $3,009 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,821 per month in Garden Grove, CA vs $4,593 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,034 per month in Garden Grove, CA vs $6,177 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
🙂Garden Grove, CA is about 13% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Garden Grove, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Garden Grove, CA by 95%, Chicago, IL by 125%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.79$19.79
$20.35$20.35
-2.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.1$84.1
$102$102
-17.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86$9.86
$11.98$11.98
-17.70%
Cappuccino
$5.08$5.08
$5.70$5.70
-10.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61$2.61
$3.00$3.00
-13.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$2.46$2.46
-20.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.11$7.11
$6.87$6.87
3.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81$6.81
$8.09$8.09
-15.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.03$1.03
3.88%
White Bread(500g)
$4.07$4.07
$3.95$3.95
3.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.65$4.65
$5.42$5.42
-14.21%
Eggs
$4.60$4.60
$4.50$4.50
2.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50$10.50
$14.53$14.53
-27.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.88$8.88
$14.89$14.89
-40.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73$14.73
$18.98$18.98
-22.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53$3.53
$5.39$5.39
-34.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90$1.90
$1.77$1.77
7.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$4.35$4.35
-8.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.53$5.53
$4.53$4.53
22.08%
Potato(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$2.53$2.53
27.67%
Onion(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$2.81$2.81
8.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45$1.45
$2.51$2.51
-42.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$2.67$2.67
-21.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.36$9.36
$14.88$14.88
-37.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.02$15.02
$15.22$15.22
-1.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$2.46$2.46
-30.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73$4.73
$3.53$3.53
33.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$2.56$2.56
-23.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.7$68.7
$74.3$74.3
-7.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.88$3.88
$3.19$3.19
21.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74$2.74
$1.41$1.41
94.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.79$31.79
$25.49$25.49
24.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24$1.24
$1.04$1.04
19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K$23.7K
$32.2K$32.2K
-26.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K$24.6K
$26.8K$26.8K
-8.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205$205
$184$184
11.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.75$45.75
$63.1$63.1
-27.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2$71.2
$66.4$66.4
7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.64$42.64
$75.9$75.9
-43.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.06$13.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.20$14.20
$15.25$15.25
-6.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,216$1,216
$2,090$2,090
-41.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.1K$40.1K
$39.2K$39.2K
2.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9$56.9
$64.2$64.2
-11.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.98$33.98
$51.0$51.0
-33.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.5$77.5
$97.2$97.2
-20.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7$86.7
$149$149
-41.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,629$1,629
$2,341$2,341
-30.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,364$1,364
$1,572$1,572
-13.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,644$2,644
$4,741$4,741
-44.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,194$2,194
$2,819$2,819
-22.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,900$3,900
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,638$2,638
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garden Grove, CA
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,620$4,620
$4,769$4,769
-3.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.58
6.6
-0.30%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Garden Grove, CA: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,629 in Garden Grove, CA versus $2,341 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 3% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $84.0 in Garden Grove, CA versus $102 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $447 – making Garden Grove, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Garden Grove, CA vs Chicago, IL: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Garden Grove, CA and Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,608 in Garden Grove, CA, $3,009 in Chicago, IL – roughly 15% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Garden Grove, CA compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,912 per month in Garden Grove, CA and $4,513 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Garden Grove, CA and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Garden Grove, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Garden Grove, CA and $102 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,608 in Garden Grove, CA and $3,009 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Garden Grove, CA and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,608 in Garden Grove, CA to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Garden Grove, CA or Chicago, IL safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Garden Grove, CA and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Garden Grove, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Garden Grove, CA vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado