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Cost of living · head to head

Los Angeles, CA is approximately 10% pricier than Chicago, IL, using Chicago, IL as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Chicago, IL
A salary of $100,000 in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $109,653 in Los Angeles, CA, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Los Angeles, CA is more expensive than Chicago, IL, so you’d need about $109,653 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Chicago, IL — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$9,700 more to cover the higher cost of living, not a real raise.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 10%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Los Angeles, CA run 52% higher than in Chicago, IL (170.4 vs 112.0), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryChicago, ILLos Angeles, CADifference
Overall103.6113.6+10%
Goods107.3106.6-1%
Housing rents112.0170.4+52%
Utilities83.6158.6+90%
Other services100.5104.4+4%

Los Angeles, CA differs from Chicago, IL the most in utilities — about 90% higher in Los Angeles, CA — while the closest is goods.

Estimated salary equivalent in Los Angeles, CA

$50,000 in Chicago, IL$54,826
$75,000 in Chicago, IL$82,239
$100,000 in Chicago, IL$109,653
$150,000 in Chicago, IL$164,479
$200,000 in Chicago, IL$219,305

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Los Angeles, CA, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Chicago, IL.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is Los Angeles, CA cheaper than Chicago, IL?

No — Los Angeles, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 113.6 versus 103.6 for Chicago, IL, making it about 10% more expensive.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Chicago, IL if you moved to Los Angeles, CA?

About $109,653, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $109,653 in Los Angeles, CA. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Los Angeles, CA than in Chicago, IL?

Housing rents in Los Angeles, CA score 170.4 versus 112.0 in Chicago, IL — about 52% more expensive. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA?

Overall, Los Angeles, CA is about 10% pricier than Chicago, IL (index 113.6 vs 103.6), with housing 52% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.