Cost of living comparison
Los Angeles is 1.0% cheaper than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.6% less in Los Angeles
- Groceries
-
pay 5.6% more in Los Angeles
- Transportation
-
pay 8.7% more in Los Angeles
- Housing
-
pay 19.6% more in Los Angeles
- Childcare
-
pay 30.1% less in Los Angeles
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.4% less in Los Angeles
- Clothing
-
pay 6.0% less in Los Angeles
The cost of housing, transportation, and groceries in Los Angeles are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare, clothing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are lower in Los Angeles.
If you lived in Los Angeles instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 1.6% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.95
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.23
|
|
pay 5.6% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$4.99
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$6.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$4.56
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$4.77
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$7.25
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$2.72
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$1.05
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.66
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.26
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$1.35
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.15
|
|
pay 8.7% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$4.96
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$79.13
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$30,499.50
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$16.52
|
|
pay 19.6% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$72.71
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$2,395.36
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$2,100.61
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$144.10
|
|
pay 30.1% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$1,778.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$28,750.00
|
|
pay 3.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$5.46
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$12.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$59.41
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$18.00
|
|
pay 6.0% less for clothing
|
Chicago
|
Los Angeles
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$58.46
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$42.72
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$101.30
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$144.74
|
|
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