Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Redding, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Redding, CA: $2,347 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
114

Cost of Living Index in Redding, CA
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Redding, CA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Redding, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,347

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Redding, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Redding, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,347 in Redding, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Redding, CA $2,347

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,370 in Redding, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Redding, CA $3,370

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,394 in Redding, CA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Redding, CA $4,394

Chicago, IL costs about 29% more than Redding, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Redding, CA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Redding, CA by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$14.82 $14.82

39.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$60.7 $60.7

46.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.96 $11.96

10.28%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.30 $5.30

6.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.47 $2.47

6.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.95 $1.95

16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.87 $5.87

17.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$4.98 $4.98

77.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.11 $1.11

12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.12 $4.12

-9.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.22 $3.22

67.39%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.08 $4.08

16.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.76 $11.76

17.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.46 $16.46

-12.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.74 $18.74

-1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.02 $6.02

-13.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.65 $1.65

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.74 $2.74

48.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.55 $5.55

-10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.95 $3.95

-32.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.02 $3.02

-11.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.59 $2.59

-13.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.35 $1.35

131.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.94 $11.94

15.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.58 $10.58

40.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.72 $1.72

47.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.63 $3.63

-3.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$50.6 $50.6

45.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.22 $3.22

-1.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.42 $2.42

-42.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$40.15 $40.15

-37.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.53 $1.53

-21.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.2K $27.2K

28.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.5K $26.5K

0.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$194 $194

$191 $191

1.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$59.1 $59.1

17.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$68.7 $68.7

-10.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$47.26 $47.26

1.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$10.95 $10.95

62.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,794 $1,794

$2,527 $2,527

-29.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$37.6K $37.6K

-15.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$64.6 $64.6

3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$32.84 $32.84

58.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$91.8 $91.8

10.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$202 $202

-28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,377 $1,377

83.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,018 $1,018

54.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,876 $1,876

152.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,513 $1,513

78.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,028 $3,028

38.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,561 $2,561

8.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,672 $3,672

34.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.7

1.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Redding, CA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Redding, CA

$1K 43.4% 35.5% $560

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Redding, CA

$416 17.7% 7.1% $32

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Redding, CA

$275 11.7% 20.3% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Redding, CA

$319 13.6% 2% $6.6

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Redding, CA

$176 7.5% 7.3% $12

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Redding, CA

$74 3.2% 20.8% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Redding, CA

$69 3% 17.2% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,377 in Redding, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $61 in Redding, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $416 – making Redding, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Redding, CA

🕒 Local time

16:49 4:49 PM

14:49 2:49 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

91,582

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Redding, CA 2,890 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Redding, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Redding, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,347 in Redding, CA – Redding, CA comes out roughly 23% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,520 in Redding, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Redding, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,377 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $61 in Redding, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,347 in Redding, CA to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Redding, CA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.