Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterey Park, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterey Park, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,949 per month in Monterey Park, CA vs $3,068 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,841 per month in Monterey Park, CA vs $4,648 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,733 per month in Monterey Park, CA vs $6,229 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Monterey Park, CA is about 4% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Monterey Park, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Monterey Park, CA by 121%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.48 $25.48

$20.17 $20.17

26.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 $86.5

$99.5 $99.5

-13.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.87 $11.87

$12.23 $12.23

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$5.09 $5.09

$5.60 $5.60

-9.11%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.12 $3.12

-15.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.43 $2.43

-3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$6.93 $6.93

15.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.20 $8.20

-16.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.08 $1.08

10.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.58 $5.58

-25.81%

Eggs

$7.17 $7.17

$4.47 $4.47

60.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.65 $12.65

$14.50 $14.50

-12.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.83 $8.83

$15.08 $15.08

-41.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 $14.47

$19.34 $19.34

-25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$5.37 $5.37

-34.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.76 $1.76

10.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.32 $4.32

-3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.41 $4.41

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.54 $2.54

22.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.70 $2.70

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.49 $2.49

-23.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.60 $2.60

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 $10.80

$14.80 $14.80

-27.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.70 $14.70

$15.18 $15.18

-3.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.47 $2.47

6.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.60 $3.60

-8.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.54 $2.54

-22.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.30 $3.30

-6.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.38 $1.38

24.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$25.36 $25.36

14.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.09 $1.09

14.68%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

-25.00%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.6K $26.6K

-7.65%

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

$233 $233

$186 $186

25.52%

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

$66.5 $66.5

$62.9 $62.9

5.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.7 $70.7

$66.2 $66.2

6.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.34 $43.34

$77.6 $77.6

-44.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$13.77 $13.77

$14.74 $14.74

-6.58%

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

$1,190 $1,190

$2,039 $2,039

-41.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$39.9K $39.9K

-39.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$63.9 $63.9

-13.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.28 $46.28

$51.2 $51.2

-9.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

6.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$144 $144

5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$2,305 $2,305

-29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 $1,551

$1,575 $1,575

-1.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 $2,626

$4,688 $4,688

-44.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,582 $3,582

$2,737 $2,737

30.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,998 $2,998

$4,063 $4,063

-26.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,696 $2,696

-3.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,763 $2,763

$5,019 $5,019

-44.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

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

Last update for Monterey Park, CA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,621 in Monterey Park, CA versus $2,305 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 82% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $87.0 in Monterey Park, CA versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 vs $448 – making Monterey Park, 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

Monterey Park, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,949 in Monterey Park, CA, $3,068 in Chicago, IL – roughly 4% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,424 per month in Monterey Park, CA and $4,602 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monterey Park, 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 $87.0 in Monterey Park, CA and $99.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,949 in Monterey Park, CA and $3,068 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 $2,949 in Monterey Park, CA to $3,068 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 Monterey Park, 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.