Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $655k less ($304,500 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $954/mo less ($1,314 vs $2,268)
27% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $33,308/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.0%)
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,308 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
27% lower
539.8 vs 737.6 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$655k less
$304,500 vs $959,800
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$33,308
$104,981 vs $71,673/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $104,981 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 42.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 12 and Costa Mesa wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $959,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Costa Mesa, CA are about 1,735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.