City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and Chicago is the real story here. Chicago comes in 26% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,440), which over a year adds up to $5,916. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $77,902 in Chicago.
Los Angeles is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Los Angeles is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Chicago at $1,440 average has pockets that run $1,240 and others at $1,840: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Chicago are 1,741 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $493 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $77,902 in Chicago, down $4,037 (5%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 167 in Chicago, up 9 points (6%).
The move
Chicago and Los Angeles are 1,741 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $493 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $4,037 (5%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 158 in Los Angeles, down 9 points (5%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Chicago rent is 26% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Chicago is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $493/month back in your pocket ($5,916/year). Over five years that's $29,580 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Chicago is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 5% higher than Chicago
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Chicago
$77,902
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Los Angeles (about $4,037 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
5% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 5% lower than Chicago
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Los Angeles. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Los Angeles, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Los Angeles
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Los Angeles scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Chicago (158 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,440/month in Chicago versus $1,933 in Los Angeles. Median income reads $77,902 in Chicago and $81,939 in Los Angeles, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Chicago rent at $1,440/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 44/100 in Chicago.
Chicago clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Los Angeles deserves a serious look only when your $81,939 income offer in Los Angeles outweighs saving $493/month in Chicago.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Chicago, plus other cities in CA and IL.
