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 $3,624 per month in Huntington Beach, CA vs $3,009 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,934 per month in Huntington Beach, CA vs $4,593 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,244 per month in Huntington Beach, CA vs $6,177 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Huntington Beach, CA costs about 20% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Huntington Beach, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Huntington Beach, CA by 171%, Chicago, IL by 125%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$20.35 $20.35

-0.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$102 $102

-15.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$11.98 $11.98

1.59%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$5.70 $5.70

-10.18%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.00 $3.00

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.46 $2.46

-13.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.17 $7.17

$6.87 $6.87

4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$8.09 $8.09

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.03 $1.03

20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.95 $3.95

22.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.42 $5.42

-25.46%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$4.50 $4.50

8.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.36 $12.36

$14.53 $14.53

-14.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.35 $11.35

$14.89 $14.89

-23.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$18.98 $18.98

-24.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.39 $5.39

-21.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.77 $1.77

7.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.35 $4.35

-9.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.53 $4.53

25.39%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.53 $2.53

72.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.81 $2.81

8.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.51 $2.51

-31.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.67 $2.67

-23.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.33 $9.33

$14.88 $14.88

-37.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$15.22 $15.22

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.46 $2.46

-30.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.53 $3.53

30.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.56 $2.56

14.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.66 $49.66

$74.3 $74.3

-33.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.19 $3.19

24.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.41 $1.41

96.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.62 $31.62

$25.49 $25.49

24.05%

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

-26.35%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.8K $26.8K

-5.55%

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

$204 $204

$184 $184

10.99%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$63.1 $63.1

-15.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$66.4 $66.4

7.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.44 $44.44

$75.9 $75.9

-41.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$14.16 $14.16

$15.25 $15.25

-7.15%

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

$1,216 $1,216

$2,090 $2,090

-41.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K $39.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

0.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 $58.0

$64.2 $64.2

-9.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 $35.35

$51.0 $51.0

-30.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$97.2 $97.2

-12.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$149 $149

-15.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,546 $2,546

$2,341 $2,341

8.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 $2,180

$1,572 $1,572

38.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,090 $5,090

$4,741 $4,741

7.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,290 $5,290

$2,819 $2,819

87.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,059 $8,059

$3,900 $3,900

106.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,175 $5,175

$2,638 $2,638

96.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,507 $5,507

$4,769 $4,769

15.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for Huntington Beach, CA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,546 in Huntington Beach, 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 15% 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 $86.0 in Huntington Beach, CA versus $102 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $447 – making Huntington Beach, CA 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

Huntington Beach, CA costs about 20% more than Chicago, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,436 per month in Huntington Beach, CA and $4,513 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Huntington Beach, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Huntington Beach, CA and $102 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 $3,624 in Huntington Beach, CA and $3,009 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL to $3,624 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.