Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 7% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,468
+24% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,688
+34% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$2,148
+53% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$2,489
+60% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$879,500
+179% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$80,366
+7% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$55,850
+2% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.9 yr
+1.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
45.5%
36.3%
+9.2 pp in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
37.8%
+5.5 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
31.1 min
+2.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
730.5
+35% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
3,489.9
1,501.2
+57% in Chicago, IL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
67.0°F
+14.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
21.2 in
+16.7 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.82/gal
$5.89/gal
+22% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Chicago vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.75
+30% in Chicago, IL

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs LA Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.9
33.4
+77% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.10
$20.72
+71% in Los Angeles, CA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in Los Angeles, CA

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / CA)
6.25%
7.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
13.30%
+8.4 pp in CA

Chicago vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Los Angeles?
Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Los Angeles?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).