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Data sourced from US Census, BLS, DOT, EPA, Zillow (aggregated)

Last updated: Feb 2026

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El MontevsChicago

Last updated: Feb 2026
Data Methodology

Moving from El Monte to Chicago will save you approximately $116,388 on median home prices (18.1% less). Monthly rent is $485 cheaper in Chicago. Note that median income is 11.7% lower in Chicago.

Housing
18.1% cheaper
Rent
18.1% cheaper
View El MonteView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

El Monte, CA

Median Home Price$641,662
Monthly Rent$2,674
Median Income$82,922
Population116,745
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Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274-18.1%
Monthly Rent
$2,189-18.1%
Median Income
$73,194-11.7%
Population2,720,556
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Cities Location Map

Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

El Monte

2015N/A
2020N/A
2025$2,674

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

El Monte

Housing$14,527
Food$6,850
Transport$14,083
Healthcare$11,373
Total$56,783

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

18.1%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Chicago
$485
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
11.7%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

El Monte

Population116,745
Median Age37.3 yrs
Violent Crime Rate481 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2165 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

El Monte

481
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2165
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or El Monte?

Chicago is 18.1% cheaper for housing than El Monte. The median home price in Chicago is $525,274 compared to $641,662 in El Monte, a savings of $116,388.

What is the rent difference between El Monte and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while El Monte averages $2,674. That's a savings of $485 per month, or $5,819 annually.

How do incomes compare between El Monte and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 11.7% lower than El Monte's median of $82,922.

Which city is safer: El Monte or Chicago?

El Monte has a violent crime rate of 481 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Chicago is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.

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