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

🙂 Solo nomad: Monrovia, CA is 31% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Monrovia, CA is 37.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.1 $15.1

$20.82 $20.82

-27.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.42 $35.42

$100 $100

-64.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$11.97 $11.97

-15.87%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.56 $5.56

-9.35%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$3.11 $3.11

-34.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.42 $2.42

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.86 $6.86

18.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.94 $8.94

$8.45 $8.45

5.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$5.6 $5.6

$4.15 $4.15

34.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$5.52 $5.52

-18.12%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$4.65 $4.65

-1.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 $11.17

$14.33 $14.33

-22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$14.88 $14.88

-70.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 $14.37

$19.34 $19.34

-25.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$5.17 $5.17

22.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.71 $1.71

7.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$4.41 $4.41

-50.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$4.51 $4.51

-49.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.53 $2.53

-14.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.74 $2.74

-18.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.7 $2.7

-61.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 $9.65

$15.19 $15.19

-36.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 $10.05

$16.42 $16.42

-38.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.7 $3.7

25.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.53 $2.53

-23.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.36 $20.36

$74.1 $74.1

-72.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.34 $3.34

21.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.42 $1.42

95.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.8 $31.8

$25.42 $25.42

25.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.08 $1.08

20.37%

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

$22.4K $22.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-30.82%

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

$22K $22K

$26.2K $26.2K

-15.97%

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

$205 $205

$188 $188

8.70%

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

$55.3 $55.3

$63.7 $63.7

-13.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 $50.3

$65.2 $65.2

-22.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.37 $43.37

$76.7 $76.7

-43.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.2 $14.2

$14.93 $14.93

-4.89%

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

$1,834 $1,834

$2,063 $2,063

-11.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K $40.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

3.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.83 $14.83

$64.3 $64.3

-76.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.11 $41.11

$52.4 $52.4

-21.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 $75.9

$95.2 $95.2

-20.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 $158

$145 $145

8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,378 $2,378

-33.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 $1,346

$1,584 $1,584

-15.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$4,763 $4,763

-44.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,238 $2,238

$2,815 $2,815

-20.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,038 $3,038

$3,588 $3,588

-15.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,472 $2,472

$2,490 $2,490

-0.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,026 $6,026

$5,275 $5,275

14.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

6.6

1.36%

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

Last update for Monrovia, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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