Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Hemet, CA and in Chicago, IL: $3,056 and $3,037 a month, rent and utilities included.

149

Cost of Living Index in Hemet, CA
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Hemet, CA Living Index
147

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

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Hemet, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,056

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,056 per month in Hemet, CA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hemet, CA $3,056
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,603 per month in Hemet, CA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hemet, CA $4,603
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $6,151 per month in Hemet, CA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hemet, CA $6,151
Chicago, IL $5,999

Hemet, CA costs about 1% more than Chicago, IL.

Both Hemet, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hemet, CA by 125%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.69 $19.69

$20.71 $20.71

-4.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$89.2 $89.2

-9.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$13.19 $13.19

-8.34%

Cappuccino

$6.28 $6.28

$5.66 $5.66

10.95%

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

$3.52 $3.52

$2.64 $2.64

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.28 $2.28

3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.31 $7.31

$6.87 $6.87

6.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.59 $9.59

$8.84 $8.84

8.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.25 $1.25

-12.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.72 $3.72

6.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$5.39 $5.39

-39.70%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.74 $4.74

-2.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 $12.92

$13.84 $13.84

-6.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.40 $14.40

42.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.55 $15.55

$18.38 $18.38

-15.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$5.22 $5.22

-37.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.98 $1.98

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.06 $4.06

35.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.97 $4.97

15.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.67 $2.67

26.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.66 $2.66

-15.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.24 $2.24

-8.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$3.13 $3.13

-68.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.04 $11.04

$13.82 $13.82

-20.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.88 $14.88

-19.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.54 $2.54

-24.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 $4.13

$3.51 $3.51

17.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.43 $2.43

193.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 $4.93

$3.18 $3.18

55.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.39 $1.39

127.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.20 $1.20

0.83%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$35.0K $35.0K

-18.10%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.34%

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

$168 $168

$194 $194

-13.39%

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

$66.9 $66.9

$69.5 $69.5

-3.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 $58.4

$61.6 $61.6

-5.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 $24.85

$27.34 $27.34

-9.11%

Cinema Ticket

$10.83 $10.83

$17.81 $17.81

-39.19%

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

$1,926 $1,926

$1,794 $1,794

7.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 $57.1

$67.0 $67.0

-14.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.53 $39.53

$52.1 $52.1

-24.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 $92.1

$102 $102

-9.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$144 $144

1.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,964 $1,964

$2,526 $2,526

-22.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,769 $1,769

$1,578 $1,578

12.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,820 $3,820

$4,738 $4,738

-19.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,186 $3,186

$2,693 $2,693

18.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,622 $3,622

$4,931 $4,931

-26.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.81

-6.17%

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

Last update for Hemet, CA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Hemet, CA

$1.8K 57.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 10.8% $191

Groceries & Markets

Hemet, CA

$424 13.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 5.6% $24

Eating Out

Hemet, CA

$348 11.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 1% $3.5

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hemet, CA

$294 9.6%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 10.8% $32

Clothing & Footwear

Hemet, CA

$151 4.9%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 8.9% $13

Getting Around

Hemet, CA

$49 * 1.6%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 89.8% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Hemet, CA

$22 * 0.7%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 286% $62

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,964 in Hemet, CA versus $2,526 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 36% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $81 in Hemet, CA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $447 – making Hemet, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hemet, CA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:43 10:43 AM

12:43 12:43 PM

2 h ahead of Hemet, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

70,136

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Hemet, CA Chicago, IL 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Hemet, 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

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

Hemet, CA costs about 1% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,584 per month in Hemet, CA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hemet, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,964 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Hemet, CA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Hemet, 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 $3,056 in Hemet, CA and $3,037 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,056 in Hemet, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.