Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,072 a month against $3,170 in Long Beach, CA, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Long Beach, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

152

Cost of Living Index in Long Beach, CA
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Long Beach, CA Living Index
146

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

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Long Beach, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,170

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,170 per month in Long Beach, CA vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Long Beach, CA $3,170
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $4,689 per month in Long Beach, CA vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Long Beach, CA $4,689
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $6,209 per month in Long Beach, CA vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Long Beach, CA $6,209
Chicago, IL $6,019

Long Beach, CA costs about 3% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Long Beach, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Long Beach, CA by 134%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$20.39 $20.39

-2.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 $81.0

$88.6 $88.6

-8.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.85 $12.85

17.43%

Cappuccino

$6.05 $6.05

$5.78 $5.78

4.67%

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

$3.45 $3.45

$2.74 $2.74

25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.26 $2.26

7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.53 $7.53

$6.88 $6.88

9.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.64 $9.64

$9.24 $9.24

4.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.26 $1.26

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.55 $3.55

16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$5.38 $5.38

-12.08%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.55 $4.55

4.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 $12.84

$13.65 $13.65

-5.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.28 $20.28

$14.07 $14.07

44.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 $15.61

$18.06 $18.06

-13.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$5.16 $5.16

-4.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.98 $1.98

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$3.88 $3.88

43.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$4.83 $4.83

22.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.81 $2.81

32.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.67 $2.67

-15.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.07 $2.07

-3.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.03 $3.03

-39.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 $11.86

$13.90 $13.90

-14.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$15.05 $15.05

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.63 $2.63

-27.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.45 $3.45

17.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.43 $2.43

-49.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 $65.3

$75.3 $75.3

-13.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.17 $3.17

-3.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.70 $1.70

7.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.98 $35.98

$24.90 $24.90

44.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.28 $1.28

24.22%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$35.8K $35.8K

-20.97%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.8K $26.8K

2.21%

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

$170 $170

$192 $192

-11.44%

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

$66.3 $66.3

$69.6 $69.6

-4.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 $60.0

$62.2 $62.2

-3.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.19 $36.19

$47.79 $47.79

-24.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 $15.20

$17.83 $17.83

-14.75%

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

$1,936 $1,936

$1,815 $1,815

6.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$40.6K $40.6K

-56.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 $57.5

$66.2 $66.2

-13.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.27 $39.27

$51.4 $51.4

-23.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 $91.2

$103 $103

-11.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$143 $143

3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,097 $2,097

$2,531 $2,531

-17.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,759 $1,759

$1,621 $1,621

8.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$4,828 $4,828

-26.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,038 $3,038

$2,734 $2,734

11.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,121 $7,121

$4,163 $4,163

71.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,423 $6,423

$2,723 $2,723

135.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,670 $4,670

$4,924 $4,924

-5.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.31

6.78

-6.93%

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

Last update for Long Beach, CA: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Long Beach, CA

$1.8K 55.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 7.8% $138

Groceries & Markets

Long Beach, CA

$457 14.4%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 3.9% $18

Eating Out

Long Beach, CA

$358 11.3%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 3.9% $14

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Long Beach, CA

$296 9.4%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 9.3% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Long Beach, CA

$151 4.8%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 8.5% $13

Getting Around

Long Beach, CA

$82 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 17.3% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Long Beach, CA

$67 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 25.3% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,097 in Long Beach, CA versus $2,531 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 5% 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 Long Beach, CA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $457 in Long Beach, CA vs $439 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Long Beach, CA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

17:23 5:23 PM

19:23 7:23 PM

2 h ahead of Long Beach, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

469,450

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Long Beach, CA Chicago, IL 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Long Beach, CA
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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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,170 in Long Beach, CA, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,755 per month in Long Beach, CA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Beach, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,097 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Long Beach, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Long Beach, CA and $89 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 $3,170 in Long Beach, CA and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chicago, IL costs $3,072 versus $3,170 in Long Beach, CA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.