2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Chicago, IL vs Santa Monica, CA

Change Cities
Highlights

On average, there are 281 sunny days per year in Santa Monica. Chicago averages 189 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Santa Monica, California gets 13.7 inches of rain, on average, per year. Chicago, Illinois gets 38.2 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Santa Monica averages 0 inches of snow per year. Chicago averages 35.1 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Santa Monica, California
Summer High: the July high is around 73.5 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 49.3
Rain: averages 13.7 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 0 inches of snow a year

Chicago, Illinois
Summer High: the July high is around 83.9 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 19.2
Rain: averages 38.2 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 35.1 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index
Santa Monica

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Santa Monica is 9.2 (10=best), which means it is one of the most pleasant places in California.

9.2 / 10
August, September and July are the most pleasant months in Santa Monica, while January and February are the least comfortable months.

Chicago

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Chicago is 7.0 (10=best), which means it is about average compared to other places in Illinois.

7 / 10
September, June and August are the most pleasant months in Chicago, while January and December are the least comfortable months.

Today's Weather - Chicago, IL

2 PM PST

Mostly Cloudy

52°F

DAYDESCRIPTIONHIGH / LOWWIND
This AfternoonMostly Cloudy52° / 44°NE 10 mph
SaturdayChance Rain Showers50° / 44°NNE 10 to 15 mph
SundayRain Showers Likely50° / 46°NNE 10 to 15 mph
MondayChance Rain Showers56° / 47°NNE 10 mph
TuesdaySlight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny63° / 52°NNW 5 mph
WednesdayPartly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers61° / 47°N 5 to 10 mph
ThursdayMostly Sunny58° / 47°NNE 10 to 15 mph
Today's Weather - Santa Monica, CA

2 PM PST

Mostly Sunny

65°F

DAYDESCRIPTIONHIGH / LOWWIND
This AfternoonMostly Sunny66° / 57°SW 10 to 15 mph
SaturdayPatchy Drizzle then Mostly Cloudy64° / 56°SSW 5 to 15 mph
SundayChance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny62° / 57°WSW 10 to 20 mph
MondayPatchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy62° / 55°SSE 5 to 15 mph
TuesdayMostly Sunny65° / 55°S 0 to 10 mph
WednesdayPatchy Fog then Mostly Sunny67° / 56°W 0 to 15 mph
ThursdayPatchy Fog then Mostly Sunny72° / 59°W 0 to 10 mph
Average Monthly High / Low (°F)
MonthChicago, ILSanta Monica, CA
January32° / 19°64° / 49°
February37° / 23°65° / 50°
March47° / 31°65° / 51°
April58° / 41°66° / 53°
May69° / 51°68° / 57°
June79° / 61°70° / 60°
July84° / 68°74° / 63°
August82° / 67°74° / 63°
September75° / 59°74° / 62°
October63° / 47°72° / 58°
November49° / 36°68° / 53°
December36° / 24°64° / 49°
Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Chicago / Santa Monica
MonthHot DaysFreezing DaysRainy DaysSnowy Days
January0 / 027 / 010 / 67 / 0
February0 / 023 / 08 / 65 / 0
March0 / 017 / 011 / 54 / 0
April0 / 03 / 011 / 21 / 0
May1 / 00 / 012 / 10 / 0
June3 / 00 / 010 / 10 / 0
July6 / 00 / 010 / 00 / 0
August4 / 00 / 010 / 00 / 0
September1 / 00 / 09 / 10 / 0
October0 / 11 / 010 / 20 / 0
November0 / 010 / 011 / 32 / 0
December0 / 024 / 011 / 56 / 0
July is the hottest month for Chicago with an average high temperature of 83.9°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in Illinois. In Chicago, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Chicago are June, September and August.

August is the hottest month for Santa Monica with an average high temperature of 74.3°, which ranks it as one of the coolest places in California. In Santa Monica, there are 5 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Santa Monica are August, September and July.
January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Chicago with an average of 19.2°. This is warmer than most places in Illinois.

December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Santa Monica with an average of 48.6°. This is one of the warmest places in California.

In Chicago, there are 13.6 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in Illinois.

In Santa Monica, there are 1.8 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is one of the coolest places in California.

In Chicago, there are 103.9 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in Illinois.

In Santa Monica, there are 0.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the warmest places in California.

In Chicago, there are 4.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is warmer than most places in Illinois.

In Santa Monica, there are 0.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in California.

August is the wettest month in Chicago with 4.2 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 2.0 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 31% of yearly precipitation and 17% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 38.2 inches in Chicago means that it is drier than most places in Illinois.


February is the wettest month in Santa Monica with 3.4 inches of rain, and the driest month is August with 0.0 inches. The wettest season is Spring with 61% of yearly precipitation and 1% occurs in Autumn, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 13.7 inches in Santa Monica means that it is drier than most places in California.

May is the rainiest month in Chicago with 11.5 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 8.4 rainy days. There are 124.8 rainy days annually in Chicago, which is one of the rainiest places in Illinois. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 27% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 24% chance of a rainy day.

February is the rainiest month in Santa Monica with 5.9 days of rain, and August is the driest month with only 0.3 rainy days. There are 30.3 rainy days annually in Santa Monica, which is one of the least rainy places in California. The rainiest season is Spring when it rains 53% of the time and the driest is Autumn with only a 4% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 35.1 inches in Chicago means that it is one of the snowiest places in Illinois.

There is rarely any recorded snowfall in Santa Monica, ranking it as one of the least snowy places in California.
January is the snowiest month in Chicago with 11.0 inches of snow, and 6 months of the year have significant snowfall.

Any measurable snowfall is a rare occurance in Santa Monica.

DID YOU KNOW?

Many people confuse Weather and Climate, but they are different. Weather refers to the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, while Climate refers to the conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time.

Weather, more specifically, refers to how the atmosphere behaves and its effects on life and human activities. Most people think of Weather in terms of what can be observed: temperature, humidity, precipitation, and cloudy/sunny conditions. Weather conditions constantly change on a minute-to-minute basis.

Climate is a record of the average weather conditions for a given place over a long period of time, often referred to as Climate Normals. A 30-year period of record is a common requirement to be considered a Climate Normal.

Reviews for Chicago    2 Reviews
Jill · Sherman Oaks, CA
re:
Over 16 years ago

Hi. I'd like to know if you still feel the same way about living in Broomfield. I went there this past July to check it out (along with Lafayette, Boulder (can't  More

   |    Reply
NC For Me · Apex, NC
re:
Over 16 years ago

Apex is perfect for what you are looking for. It's close enough to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill to find a job and Cary the next town over, is a little more expensive but  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Chicago

See all reviews
Reviews for Santa Monica    2 Reviews
Jill · Sherman Oaks, CA
re:
Over 16 years ago

Hi. I'd like to know if you still feel the same way about living in Broomfield. I went there this past July to check it out (along with Lafayette, Boulder (can't  More

   |    Reply
NC For Me · Apex, NC
re:
Over 16 years ago

Apex is perfect for what you are looking for. It's close enough to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill to find a job and Cary the next town over, is a little more expensive but  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Monica

See all reviews
Most Recent Searches On Compare Climate & Weather
Compare CityCompared To This City
 Alva, FloridaMiramar, FloridaCompare
 Roseville, CaliforniaPetersburg, VirginiaCompare
 Reno, NevadaSacramento, CaliforniaCompare
 Albany, New YorkPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCompare
 Charlottesville, VirginiaIvy, VirginiaCompare
 Raleigh, North CarolinaClarksville, VirginiaCompare
 Raleigh, North CarolinaClarksville, VirginiaCompare
 Potlatch, IdahoCharleston, South CarolinaCompare
 Fort Worth, TexasGreenville, South CarolinaCompare
 Medford, OregonKnoxville, TennesseeCompare
Compare Cost of Living
Compare Chicago Cost of Living vs Santa Monica Cost of Living: Taxes, Childcare, Groceries, Health...


Zips In Chicago, Illinois
60629, 60618, 60632, 60639, 60623, 60647, 60617, 60625, 60608, 60634, 56 total
Zips In SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
90405, 90403, 90404, 90402, 90401
Learn More About CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Overview
Cost of Living
Job Market
Crime
Climate
Economy
Religion
Voting
Learn More About Santa Monica, California
Overview
Cost of Living
Job Market
Crime
Climate
Economy
Religion
Voting
Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

Privacy Policy  •  Terms of Use  •  Returns & Refunds
© Best Places. All rights reserved.