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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,561 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,985 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,408 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Santa Monica, CA costs about 48% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Santa Monica, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Santa Monica, CA by 240%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.17 $25.17

$20.91 $20.91

20.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.5 $98.5

$98.1 $98.1

0.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$11.86 $11.86

4.13%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.60 $5.60

-0.18%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.07 $3.07

-3.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.47 $2.47

-8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.61 $8.61

$7.14 $7.14

20.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$8.08 $8.08

14.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.05 $1.05

12.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.11 $4.11

4.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.61 $5.61

-22.10%

Eggs

$6.99 $6.99

$4.51 $4.51

54.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$14.27 $14.27

-12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.90 $13.90

$14.89 $14.89

-6.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$19.19 $19.19

-23.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.14 $5.14

8.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.77 $1.77

11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.39 $4.39

-9.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.56 $4.56

25.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.54 $2.54

16.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.75 $2.75

-8.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.42 $2.42

-21.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.62 $2.62

-17.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 $10.97

$14.92 $14.92

-26.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$14.80 $14.80

2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.46 $2.46

2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.73 $3.73

38.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.48 $2.48

-12.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.8 $78.8

$75.4 $75.4

4.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.18 $3.18

-3.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.42 $1.42

20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.91 $28.91

$24.94 $24.94

15.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.06 $1.06

22.64%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-23.71%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.37%

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

$192 $192

$185 $185

3.69%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$61.7 $61.7

-4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$66.9 $66.9

-1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$75.2 $75.2

62.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.04 $45.04

$13.08 $13.08

244.34%

Cinema Ticket

$18.15 $18.15

$14.71 $14.71

23.39%

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

$1,806 $1,806

$2,020 $2,020

-10.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K $14.8K

$39.4K $39.4K

-62.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 $62.3

$64.6 $64.6

-3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 $34.90

$52.5 $52.5

-33.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$97.8 $97.8

5.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$148 $148

3.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,293 $3,293

$2,313 $2,313

42.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,878 $2,878

$1,590 $1,590

80.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,994 $6,994

$4,608 $4,608

51.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,951 $5,951

$2,779 $2,779

114.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$3,922 $3,922

176.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,190 $8,190

$2,613 $2,613

213.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,147 $7,147

$5,217 $5,217

36.99%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,293 in Santa Monica, CA versus $2,313 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 37% higher in Santa Monica, CA, 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 $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $447 – making Santa Monica, 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

Santa Monica, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,561 in Santa Monica, CA, $3,077 in Chicago, IL – roughly 48% apart. Santa Monica, CA costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,842 per month in Santa Monica, CA and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Santa Monica, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA and $98.0 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 $4,561 in Santa Monica, CA and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Santa Monica, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,077 in Chicago, IL to $4,561 in Santa Monica, CA. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Monica, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.