Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hermosa Beach, CA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Hermosa Beach, CA: $2,748 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

132

Cost of Living Index in Hermosa Beach, CA
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Hermosa Beach, CA Living Index
152

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

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Hermosa Beach, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,748

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,748 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hermosa Beach, CA $2,748
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,129 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hermosa Beach, CA $4,129
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,511 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hermosa Beach, CA $5,511
Chicago, IL $6,115

Hermosa Beach, CA is about 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Hermosa Beach, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hermosa Beach, CA by 103%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.31 $25.31

$20.65 $20.65

22.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$90.2 $90.2

33.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.05 $15.05

$12.94 $12.94

16.31%

Cappuccino

$6.10 $6.10

$5.60 $5.60

8.93%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.64 $2.64

16.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.27 $2.27

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.98 $6.98

12.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.03 $10.03

$8.83 $8.83

13.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.27 $1.27

0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.80 $3.80

23.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.30 $5.30

-10.57%

Eggs

$5.51 $5.51

$4.76 $4.76

15.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$13.96 $13.96

-17.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 $9.02

$14.61 $14.61

-38.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.23 $19.23

$18.77 $18.77

2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$5.19 $5.19

-9.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.98 $1.98

16.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.93 $3.93

0.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$4.96 $4.96

12.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.76 $2.76

17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.76 $2.76

5.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.22 $2.22

-9.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.98 $2.98

-17.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.02 $14.02

-14.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.28 $15.28

-2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.58 $2.58

-5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.50 $3.50

-20.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.47 $2.47

-20.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.34 $3.34

-8.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.43 $1.43

27.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.13 $32.13

$24.32 $24.32

32.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.26 $1.26

22.22%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$35.0K $35.0K

-17.26%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

3.11%

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

$217 $217

$193 $193

12.71%

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

$77.3 $77.3

$68.3 $68.3

13.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$61.3 $61.3

24.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.90 $41.90

$54.1 $54.1

-22.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.06 $15.06

$27.92 $27.92

-46.06%

Cinema Ticket

$17.68 $17.68

$17.74 $17.74

-0.34%

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

$1,636 $1,636

$1,652 $1,652

-0.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$31.1K $31.1K

-59.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 $61.7

$66.1 $66.1

-6.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.44 $48.44

$51.2 $51.2

-5.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 $106

$100 $100

5.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$141 $141

-25.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 $1,566

$2,446 $2,446

-36.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 $1,314

$1,678 $1,678

-21.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,537 $2,537

$4,717 $4,717

-46.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,150 $2,150

$2,795 $2,795

-23.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,944 $2,944

$4,105 $4,105

-28.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,224 $2,224

$2,650 $2,650

-16.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,062 $7,062

$4,866 $4,866

45.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.31

6.81

-7.34%

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

Last update for Hermosa Beach, CA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Hermosa Beach, CA

$1.3K 47.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 27.7% $364

Groceries & Markets

Hermosa Beach, CA

$420 15.3%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 7.1% $30

Eating Out

Hermosa Beach, CA

$402 14.6%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 14.5% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hermosa Beach, CA

$371 13.5%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 13.1% $48

Clothing & Footwear

Hermosa Beach, CA

$144 5.2%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 11.9% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Hermosa Beach, CA

$77 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 16% $12

Getting Around

Hermosa Beach, CA

$20 * 0.7%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 376% $75

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,566 in Hermosa Beach, CA versus $2,446 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 45% higher in Hermosa Beach, CA, 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 $121 in Hermosa Beach, CA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $420 in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Hermosa Beach, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hermosa Beach, CA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

14:53 2:53 PM

16:53 4:53 PM

2 h ahead of Hermosa Beach, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

19,728

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Hermosa Beach, CA Chicago, IL 2,830 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Hermosa Beach, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,748 in Hermosa Beach, CA, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 14% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,121 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hermosa Beach, CA, 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 $121 in Hermosa Beach, CA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,748 in Hermosa Beach, CA and $3,139 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 $2,748 in Hermosa Beach, CA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. 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 Hermosa Beach, 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.