Chicago, IL vs Los Angeles, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Los Angeles, CA is 9.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Chicago works out to about $82,200 in Los Angeles, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 52.2% more in Los Angeles. Goods are 0.6% lower and other services 3.9% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 89.7% higher in Los Angeles.
- Typical asking rent is $2,929 a month in Los Angeles and $2,163 in Chicago, $9,192 a year more in Los Angeles (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $950,000 in Los Angeles and $356,000 in Chicago.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Los Angeles was 8.1% more expensive than Chicago.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 52.2% higher in Los Angeles than in Chicago
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
All items Chicago, IL: 103.6 Los Angeles, CA: 113.6
Goods Chicago, IL: 107.3 Los Angeles, CA: 106.6
Housing (rents) Chicago, IL: 112.0 Los Angeles, CA: 170.4
Utilities Chicago, IL: 83.6 Los Angeles, CA: 158.6
Other services Chicago, IL: 100.5 Los Angeles, CA: 104.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 113.6 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 106.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 170.4 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 158.6 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 104.4 |
| Category | Chicago | Los Angeles | Los Angeles vs Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 113.6 | +9.6% |
| Goods | 107.3 | 106.6 | −0.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 170.4 | +52.2% |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 158.6 | +89.7% |
| Other services | 100.5 | 104.4 | +3.9% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,163 | $2,929 | +35.4% |
| Typical home value | $356,000 | $950,000 | +167.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Chicago | $75,000 | $82,200 | +9.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Chicago and Los Angeles has widened since 2008: 7.9 points then, 10.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.4 | 113.3 |
| 2009 | 106.5 | 112.2 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 112.5 |
| 2011 | 106.9 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 105.1 | 112.1 |
| 2013 | 104.2 | 112.4 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 112.2 |
| 2015 | 102.6 | 113.3 |
| 2016 | 103.8 | 111.3 |
| 2017 | 105.2 | 110.2 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 111.0 |
| 2019 | 102.6 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 113.9 |
| 2021 | 105.5 | 114.2 |
| 2022 | 105.7 | 113.3 |
| 2023 | 102.5 | 114.7 |
| 2024 | 103.6 | 113.6 |
Goods
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.5 | 108.0 |
| 2009 | 106.2 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 104.8 | 104.0 |
| 2011 | 105.8 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 103.2 | 104.4 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 104.4 |
| 2014 | 101.7 | 106.2 |
| 2015 | 99.2 | 108.1 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 107.8 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.6 |
| 2019 | 105.2 | 105.9 |
| 2020 | 103.4 | 106.5 |
| 2021 | 106.3 | 108.9 |
| 2022 | 106.6 | 106.5 |
| 2023 | 104.3 | 107.1 |
| 2024 | 107.3 | 106.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 124.0 | 183.8 |
| 2009 | 122.9 | 183.2 |
| 2010 | 124.5 | 180.0 |
| 2011 | 122.6 | 178.3 |
| 2012 | 119.8 | 178.4 |
| 2013 | 122.7 | 176.7 |
| 2014 | 122.6 | 178.5 |
| 2015 | 122.4 | 177.2 |
| 2016 | 121.4 | 178.5 |
| 2017 | 119.7 | 178.4 |
| 2018 | 117.8 | 180.5 |
| 2019 | 116.3 | 183.4 |
| 2020 | 117.3 | 183.6 |
| 2021 | 114.0 | 181.5 |
| 2022 | 111.2 | 176.9 |
| 2023 | 111.0 | 173.0 |
| 2024 | 112.0 | 170.4 |
Utilities
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.5 | 118.2 |
| 2009 | 90.8 | 119.5 |
| 2010 | 88.6 | 119.3 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 114.5 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 116.2 |
| 2013 | 80.3 | 117.9 |
| 2014 | 89.7 | 127.7 |
| 2015 | 91.9 | 125.1 |
| 2016 | 92.5 | 125.2 |
| 2017 | 92.7 | 127.1 |
| 2018 | 91.1 | 107.9 |
| 2019 | 80.5 | 112.9 |
| 2020 | 81.6 | 117.6 |
| 2021 | 82.7 | 132.3 |
| 2022 | 85.5 | 149.1 |
| 2023 | 77.0 | 140.7 |
| 2024 | 83.6 | 158.6 |
Other services
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.0 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 103.0 | 102.5 |
| 2011 | 104.3 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 103.4 | 102.6 |
| 2013 | 102.6 | 103.2 |
| 2014 | 100.1 | 101.8 |
| 2015 | 100.3 | 103.0 |
| 2016 | 102.8 | 99.9 |
| 2017 | 103.9 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 102.1 | 101.8 |
| 2019 | 99.2 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 103.0 | 102.7 |
| 2021 | 103.9 | 102.9 |
| 2022 | 104.8 | 103.7 |
| 2023 | 100.6 | 106.1 |
| 2024 | 100.5 | 104.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,929 in Los Angeles vs $2,163 in Chicago
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,347 | $1,768 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,375 | $1,809 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,376 | $1,843 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,363 | $1,858 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,392 | $1,888 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,414 | $1,925 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,417 | $1,948 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,391 | $1,955 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,428 | $2,007 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,458 | $2,042 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,450 | $2,062 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,430 | $2,071 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,463 | $2,104 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,492 | $2,132 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,483 | $2,155 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,467 | $2,171 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,501 | $2,190 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,532 | $2,222 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,528 | $2,239 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,511 | $2,246 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,546 | $2,260 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,545 | $2,236 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,525 | $2,236 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,484 | $2,238 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,515 | $2,275 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,587 | $2,338 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,624 | $2,468 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,630 | $2,523 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,677 | $2,591 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,743 | $2,668 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,766 | $2,706 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,758 | $2,689 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,798 | $2,706 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,851 | $2,733 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,865 | $2,759 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,856 | $2,742 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,893 | $2,766 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,943 | $2,796 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,953 | $2,819 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,954 | $2,805 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,999 | $2,865 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,055 | $2,871 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,066 | $2,878 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,059 | $2,866 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,109 | $2,890 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,163 | $2,916 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,163 | $2,929 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $950,000 in Los Angeles vs $356,000 in Chicago
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $199K | $507K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $201K | $509K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $203K | $505K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $207K | $495K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $210K | $518K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $212K | $538K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $213K | $528K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $216K | $524K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $221K | $557K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $223K | $578K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $225K | $579K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $228K | $591K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $232K | $613K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $235K | $627K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $235K | $644K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $236K | $660K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $239K | $643K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $241K | $635K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $240K | $645K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $240K | $664K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $244K | $669K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $245K | $666K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $246K | $682K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $255K | $723K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $265K | $741K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $274K | $769K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $278K | $797K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $280K | $822K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $292K | $864K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $302K | $897K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $300K | $890K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $298K | $878K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $297K | $849K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $304K | $858K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $311K | $896K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $314K | $922K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $318K | $918K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $325K | $931K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $327K | $947K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $331K | $961K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $334K | $954K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $335K | $941K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $938K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $343K | $948K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $348K | $951K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $351K | $947K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $356K | $950K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Chicago, IL
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, CA
- Reverse: moving from Los Angeles to Chicago
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.