Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Redmond, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Redmond, WA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.1% cheaper than Redmond, WA without rent, and 22.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.3% cheaper than Redmond, WA without rent, and 8.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.09 $20.09
3.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$70 $70
43.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.21 $12.21
-1.97%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.57 $5.57
-0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.55 $2.55
21.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.44 $2.44
-0.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.84 $7.84
-12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.99 $7.99
5.76%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.34 $1.34
-22.39%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.95 $4.95
-16.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.29 $4.29
28.67%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.23 $4.23
9.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.61 $17.61
-18.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.43 $10.43
42.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.01 $17.01
13.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$8.11 $8.11
-36.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.87 $2.87
-40.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.29 $4.29
2.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.38 $5.38
-16.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.9 $2.9
-12.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.88 $2.88
-4.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.48 $2.48
-2.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.16 $3.16
-14.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.45 $11.45
32.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.78 $17.78
-7.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.99 $1.99
18.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.19 $4.19
-11.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.3 $3.3
-23.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$89.9 $89.9
-17.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.59 $2.59
28.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.71 $1.71
-16.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.86 $29.86
-14.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.12 $1.12
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.4K $33.4K
-2.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$263 $263
-28.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$59.8 $59.8
6.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$76.1 $76.1
-14.35%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$69.6 $69.6
10.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$16.06 $16.06
-7.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,275 $2,275
-9.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29.5K $29.5K
32.64%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52.2 $52.2
23.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.7 $52.7
-0.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$91 $91
4.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$139 $139
4.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,330 $2,330
2.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,265 $2,265
-30.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,781 $3,781
25.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,553 $3,553
-20.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$7,175 $7,175
-50.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$7,063 $7,063
-64.74%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Redmond, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$9,480 $9,480
-44.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Redmond, WA: October 28, 2025

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