Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 4.9% more expensive than Los Angeles.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.1% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 2.9% less in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 7.3% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 15.2% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 43.2% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.4% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 7.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, clothing, and restaurants in Chicago are more expensive than in Los Angeles. Expenses including housing, transportation, and groceries are lower in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Los Angeles, you would:
pay 2.1% more for restaurants
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.95
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 2.9% less for groceries
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.99
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.87
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.56
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.77
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$7.25
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.72
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.05
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.66
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.26
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.15
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 7.3% less for transportation
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.96
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.13
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,499.50
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.52
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 15.2% less for housing
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.71
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,395.36
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,100.61
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.10
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 43.2% more for childcare
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,778.57
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,750.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 7.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.46
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.00
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.41
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$18.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 7.2% more for clothing
|
Los Angeles
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$58.46
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.72
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.30
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$144.74
|
$146.00
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Chicago or Los Angeles. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.