Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 0.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 48.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 4.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 56.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$20.82 $20.82

21.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$100 $100

-0.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.3 $12.3

$11.97 $11.97

2.76%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.56 $5.56

2.16%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$3.11 $3.11

-7.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.42 $2.42

-4.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.59 $8.59

$6.86 $6.86

25.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 $9.32

$8.45 $8.45

10.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.04 $1.04

13.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.15 $4.15

7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.52 $5.52

-18.66%

Eggs

$7.19 $7.19

$4.65 $4.65

54.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$14.33 $14.33

-12.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.7 $13.7

$14.88 $14.88

-7.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$19.34 $19.34

-25.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.17 $5.17

3.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.71 $1.71

14.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.41 $4.41

-9.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.51 $4.51

27.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.53 $2.53

17.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.74 $2.74

-10.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.43 $2.43

-25.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.7 $2.7

-21.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.83 $10.83

$15.19 $15.19

-28.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$16.42 $16.42

-6.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.35 $2.35

7.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.7 $3.7

44.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.53 $2.53

-17.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$74.1 $74.1

10.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.34 $3.34

-5.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.42 $1.42

20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$25.42 $25.42

14.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.08 $1.08

14.81%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.45%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.78%

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

$190 $190

$188 $188

0.77%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$63.7 $63.7

-8.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$65.2 $65.2

2.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$76.7 $76.7

59.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.73 $44.73

$13.03 $13.03

243.28%

Cinema Ticket

$18.03 $18.03

$14.93 $14.93

20.76%

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

$1,791 $1,791

$2,063 $2,063

-13.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-62.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 $62.8

$64.3 $64.3

-2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 $34.08

$52.4 $52.4

-34.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

7.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$145 $145

5.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,279 $3,279

$2,378 $2,378

37.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,892 $2,892

$1,584 $1,584

82.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,850 $6,850

$4,763 $4,763

43.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,897 $5,897

$2,815 $2,815

109.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$3,588 $3,588

200.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,171 $8,171

$2,490 $2,490

228.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,229 $7,229

$5,275 $5,275

37.04%

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 Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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