All cities / Compare / Chicago vs Anaheim
Chicago vs Anaheim for digital nomads
Chicago, IL and Anaheim, CA compared on 24 measures for people who work remotely, as of October 2026. Every figure links to its source on the city pages.
Anaheim is the cheaper city to rent in near downtown: a 1-bedroom is $2,480 a month against $2,670 in Chicago, 7% less on HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for the ZIP codes near the center. Metro-wide the figures are $1,780 and $2,610. Chicago is more walkable downtown (16.8 vs 14.4 out of 20 on the EPA index). Across the 18 measures with a clear winner, Chicago comes out ahead on 10 and Anaheim on 8: Chicago has cheaper metro-wide rent, lower home prices, cheaper Airbnb stays, a more walkable center, while Anaheim has cheaper rent near downtown, a cheaper bus fare, a better bike network, milder winters.
- Rent, 1-bed
- $2,670 vs $2,480HUD, utilities in
- Walkability
- 16.8 vs 14.4out of 20
- Airbnb night
- $239 vs $377entire home
- Breweries
- 58 vs 14open, in city
- Measures won
- 10 vs 8of 18 judged
Chicago and Anaheim, measure by measure
A dot marks the better figure where one is clearly better: lower for costs, higher for walkability, bike network, car-free households, clean air and breweries. Weather is shown without a verdict.
| Measure | Chicago | Anaheim | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom rent near downtown, HUD small-area rent | $2,670 | $2,480 | HUD SAFMR FY2027 |
| 1-bedroom rent, whole metro area | $1,780 | $2,610 | HUD FY2027 |
| Studio rent near downtown, HUD | $2,520 | $2,420 | HUD FY2027 |
| 1-bedroom, paid by current tenants | $1,399 | $1,946 | Census ACS 2024 1-year |
| Typical asking rent, all homes | $2,342 | $2,759 | Zillow ZORI |
| Typical home value | $334,030 | $946,371 | Zillow ZHVI |
| Airbnb, entire home, per night | $239 | $377 | Inside Airbnb median / AirROI median |
| Walkability within 2 miles of downtown, out of 20 | 16.8 | 14.4 | EPA |
| Households with no car | 27.4% | 5.1% | Census ACS 2024 1-year |
| Commute by public transit | 20.5% | 2.6% | Census ACS 2024 1-year |
| Single transit ride | $2.75 | $2.00 | CTA / OC Bus |
| Bike network score, out of 100 | 11 | 23 | PeopleForBikes 2026 |
| Fastest advertised home internet | 5 Gbps | 5 Gbps | AT&T |
| Cheapest advertised internet plan | $45 / mo | $35 / mo | advertised |
| July average high | 85°F | 84°F | NOAA normals |
| January average low | 19°F | 46°F | NOAA normals |
| Rain and melted snow per year | 34 in | 12 in | NOAA normals |
| Days with good air, latest full year | 149 | 138 | EPA 2025 |
| Unemployment rate, county | 5.9% | 4.4% | BLS |
| Cafes within 2 miles of downtown | 268 | n/a | OpenStreetMap |
| Coworking spaces within 2 miles | 6 | n/a | OpenStreetMap |
| Open breweries in the city | 58 | 14 | Open Brewery DB |
| Free dispersed camping areas within 50 miles | 0 | 1 | Forest Service and BLM |
| Population | 2,721,326 | 344,579 | Census ACS 2024 1-year |
Full receipts, with the page each number was read from and the date: Chicago, IL and Anaheim, CA.
Questions people ask
Is Chicago or Anaheim cheaper to live in?
Anaheim is the cheaper city to rent in near downtown: a 1-bedroom is $2,480 a month against $2,670 in Chicago, 7% less on HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for the ZIP codes near the center. Metro-wide the figures are $1,780 and $2,610. For a studio it is $2,520 in Chicago and $2,420 in Anaheim, and typical home values are $334,030 and $946,371 (Zillow). As of October 2026.
Which is more walkable, Chicago or Anaheim?
Chicago. Within 2 miles of downtown the EPA National Walkability Index gives Chicago 16.8 and Anaheim 14.4 out of 20. 27.4% of Chicago households and 5.1% of Anaheim households own no car.
Which has faster internet, Chicago or Anaheim?
The fastest advertised home plan is 5 Gbps from AT&T in Chicago and 5 Gbps from AT&T in Anaheim. Both are advertised top speeds, not measured ones, and most plans are far slower.
Which has milder winters, Chicago or Anaheim?
Anaheim. The average January low is 19°F in Chicago and 46°F in Anaheim; July highs average 85°F and 84°F (NOAA 30-year normals).
Which has more breweries, Chicago or Anaheim?
Chicago: 58 open breweries inside Chicago and 14 inside Anaheim on Open Brewery DB. Per 100,000 residents that is 2.1 and 4.1. Chicago list, Anaheim list.