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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Palmdale, CA is 8.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Palmdale, CA is 2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.61 $24.61
$20.82 $20.82
18.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74 $74
$100 $100
-26.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 $10.19
$11.97 $11.97
-14.87%
Cappuccino
$5.69 $5.69
$5.56 $5.56
2.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$3.11 $3.11
-16.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.42 $2.42
-36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.83 $7.83
$6.86 $6.86
14.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 $5.53
$8.45 $8.45
-34.56%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.04 $1.04
21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$4.43 $4.43
$4.15 $4.15
6.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$5.52 $5.52
-22.83%
Eggs
$4.58 $4.58
$4.65 $4.65
-1.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.27 $12.27
$14.33 $14.33
-14.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$14.88 $14.88
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.47 $14.47
$19.34 $19.34
-25.18%
Apples (1kg)
$5.86 $5.86
$5.17 $5.17
13.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.71 $1.71
-15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.41 $4.41
-10.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.51 $4.51
-9.53%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.53 $2.53
20.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.74 $2.74
5.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2 $2
$2.43 $2.43
-17.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.7 $2.7
-25.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.62 $10.62
$15.19 $15.19
-30.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.19 $12.19
$16.42 $16.42
-25.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.7 $3.7
-31.62%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.53 $2.53
25.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 $50.3
$74.1 $74.1
-32.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.34 $3.34
16.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.42 $1.42
41.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$53.2 $53.2
$25.42 $25.42
109.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.08 $1.08
12.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K $29.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25K $25K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$188 $188
3.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$63.7 $63.7
-16.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$65.2 $65.2
9.13%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.92 $32.92
$76.7 $76.7
-57.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$74.3 $74.3
$13.03 $13.03
470.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.22 $14.22
$14.93 $14.93
-4.76%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$397 $397
$2,063 $2,063
-80.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,942 $7,942
$39.2K $39.2K
-79.73%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 $59.4
$64.3 $64.3
-7.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.29 $40.29
$52.4 $52.4
-23.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78 $78
$95.2 $95.2
-18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$145 $145
-17.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,717 $1,717
$2,378 $2,378
-27.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,417 $1,417
$1,584 $1,584
-10.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,219 $3,219
$4,763 $4,763
-32.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,555 $2,555
$2,815 $2,815
-9.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,920 $3,920
$3,588 $3,588
9.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,463 $3,463
$2,490 $2,490
39.05%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Palmdale, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,392 $4,392
$5,275 $5,275
-16.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
6.6
1.06%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Palmdale, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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