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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,549 per month in Huntington Beach, CA vs $3,117 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,941 per month in Huntington Beach, CA vs $4,695 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,333 per month in Huntington Beach, CA vs $6,273 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Huntington Beach, CA costs about 14% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Huntington Beach, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Huntington Beach, CA by 159%, Chicago, IL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 $15.75

$19.92 $19.92

-20.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$88.5 $88.5

14.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.86 $14.86

$12.94 $12.94

14.84%

Cappuccino

$6.16 $6.16

$5.54 $5.54

11.19%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.74 $2.74

17.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.36 $2.36

-6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.36 $7.36

$7.12 $7.12

3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 $7.98

$8.73 $8.73

-8.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.34 $1.34

-8.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.17 $4.17

12.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$5.73 $5.73

-22.69%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.89 $4.89

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.32 $15.32

$14.77 $14.77

3.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.59 $17.59

$14.85 $14.85

18.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 $15.25

$19.61 $19.61

-22.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$5.57 $5.57

1.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.92 $1.92

-9.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$4.17 $4.17

1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$4.86 $4.86

32.51%

Potato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.84 $2.84

55.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.80 $2.80

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.20 $2.20

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$3.06 $3.06

-28.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$16.16 $16.16

-33.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$14.82 $14.82

2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.35 $3.35

-24.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.55 $2.55

-41.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.30 $25.30

$75.6 $75.6

-66.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.30 $3.30

33.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.36 $1.36

33.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.14 $36.14

$25.12 $25.12

43.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.17 $1.17

27.35%

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

$37.5K $37.5K

$36.0K $36.0K

4.18%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.37%

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

$232 $232

$191 $191

21.23%

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

$63.2 $63.2

$67.9 $67.9

-6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.8 $71.8

$61.7 $61.7

16.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.55 $45.55

$63.5 $63.5

-28.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$13.94 $13.94

$18.02 $18.02

-22.64%

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

$1,430 $1,430

$1,522 $1,522

-6.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.4K $36.4K

$31.3K $31.3K

16.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$63.7 $63.7

14.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.13 $41.13

$55.3 $55.3

-25.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 $79.9

$100 $100

-20.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$153 $153

-17.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 $2,673

$2,406 $2,406

11.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,186 $2,186

$1,653 $1,653

32.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,946 $4,946

$4,577 $4,577

8.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,199 $5,199

$2,771 $2,771

87.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,936 $7,936

$4,031 $4,031

96.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,196 $5,196

$2,745 $2,745

89.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,427 $5,427

$4,804 $4,804

12.95%

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 Huntington Beach, CA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,673 in Huntington Beach, CA versus $2,406 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 13% higher in Huntington Beach, 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 $101 in Huntington Beach, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $464 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,549 in Huntington Beach, CA, $3,117 in Chicago, IL – roughly 14% apart. Huntington Beach, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,324 per month in Huntington Beach, CA and $4,676 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.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Huntington Beach, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Huntington Beach, 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 $3,549 in Huntington Beach, CA and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Huntington Beach, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,117 in Chicago, IL to $3,549 in Huntington Beach, 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, Huntington Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.