Chicago vs Los Angeles

Chicago and Los Angeles compared across the three travel tiers — budget, mid-range and luxury — for daily costs, hotels, food, things to do and the practical stuff that actually decides which one you should visit.

Chicago

United States · North America

The city that invented the skyscraper still has the best skyline in America, best seen from a boat on the river. Lake Michigan gives it beaches, the Art Institute holds one of the world's great collections, and between deep-dish, Italian beef and the blues clubs it eats and plays better than almost anywhere.

Los Angeles

United States · North America

Eighty miles of coast, desert light and studio backlots stitched together by freeway — LA is less a city than a constellation of neighbourhoods that reward anyone willing to drive between them. Griffith Observatory over the basin at dusk, taco trucks in Boyle Heights, the Getty's travertine on its hilltop, and surf at Malibu an hour from downtown.

Daily cost per tier (USD)

Tier	Chicago	Los Angeles
Budget	$70–$120	$70–$130
Mid-range	$190–$340	$200–$380
Luxury	$550–$1300	$550–$1400

At a glance

	Chicago	Los Angeles
Country	United States	United States
Currency	USD	USD
Language	English	English
Best months	May–June and September–October. July and August are hot and full of festivals; January and February are brutally cold.	March–May and September–November are warm and clear. June brings "June Gloom" coastal fog that burns off by noon.
Climate	Continental with lake effect: hot, humid summers (27–29°C), very cold windy winters (-6 to 0°C, often far colder with wind chill). Spring and autumn are short.	Mediterranean: dry warm summers (Jun–Sep, 24–30°C), mild damp winters (Dec–Feb, 14–20°C). Rain falls almost entirely between December and March.
Visa	Visa Waiver Program: most European, UK and Australian visitors need an approved ESTA before flying; others need a B1/B2 visa.	ESTA visa waiver for most European, UK and Australian passports — apply online at least 72 hours ahead. Others need a B-2 visitor visa.
Safety	The Loop, River North, the Magnificent Mile and the North Side neighbourhoods are safe for visitors. As in any big US city, stay alert on late-night trains and avoid unfamiliar areas of the South and West Sides after dark.	Safe in the neighbourhoods visitors use; petty theft from parked cars is the real risk, so never leave anything visible. Skid Row and parts of downtown are best avoided after dark.
Tipping	Tipping is expected: 18–22% in restaurants, $1–2 a drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.	Tipping is expected and effectively part of the wage: 18–20% in restaurants, $1–2 per drink at a bar, 15–20% for rideshare.
Metro	Yes	Yes