Popular cities
Chicago vs Los Angeles cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Chicago
๐บ๐ธ Los Angeles
At a glance
- Where Los Angeles is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (39%โ), Transit (36%โ), Entry ticket (15%โ)
- Where Chicago is clearly cheaper: Street food (27%โ), Half-day tour (20%โ), Beer (17%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chicago is easier to travel (1.4 vs 2.0). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Chicago 1 vs Los Angeles 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Chicago | Los Angeles | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 17$17 | $ 18$18 | Chicago โ6% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8$8 | $ 11$11 | Chicago โ27% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | $ 48$48 | Chicago โ12% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 5.5$5.5 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | $ 7.5$7.5 | $ 9$9 | Chicago โ17% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 15$15 | $ 17$17 | Chicago โ12% |
| Bottled water | $ 1.8$1.8 | $ 2$2 | Chicago โ10% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.7$2.7 | $ 3$3 | Chicago โ10% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | $ 18$18 | Chicago โ6% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 10$10 | $ 10$10 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.75$2.75 | $ 1.75$1.75 | Los Angeles โ36% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 57$57 | $ 35$35 | Los Angeles โ39% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 180$180 | $ 200$200 | Chicago โ10% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 1,950$1,950 | $ 2,100$2,100 | Chicago โ7% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 26$26 | Los Angeles โ13% |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | $ 30$30 | Los Angeles โ14% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 85$85 | $ 75$75 | Los Angeles โ12% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 60$60 | $ 75$75 | Chicago โ20% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 33$33 | $ 28$28 | Los Angeles โ15% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chicago or Los Angeles?
Chicago is 8% cheaper than Los Angeles. Daily budget $334 vs $368; a month $6,737 vs $7,222.
Which is easier to travel, Chicago or Los Angeles?
Chicago is easier: Chicago 1.4/5 vs Los Angeles 2.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chicago and Los Angeles?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chicago is about $6,737 and Los Angeles about $7,222 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.