Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Redwood City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Redwood City, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.9% cheaper than Redwood City, CA without rent, and 25.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.9% cheaper than Redwood City, CA without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$27.91 $27.91

-25.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$101 $101

-0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.41 $14.41

-16.93%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.78 $4.78

16.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.62 $2.62

18.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.24 $2.24

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.92 $5.92

15.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.17 $7.17

17.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.45 $1.45

-28.28%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.38 $2.38

74.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.65 $5.65

-2.30%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.82 $4.82

-3.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$7.81 $7.81

83.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.63 $14.63

1.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.95 $16.95

14.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.65 $6.65

-22.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.21 $2.21

-22.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.68 $3.68

19.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.07 $3.07

46.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.36 $2.36

7.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.38 $3.38

-18.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.2 $2.2

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.01 $3.01

-10.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.9 $8.9

70.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.17 $17.17

-4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.09 $4.09

-9.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$6.79 $6.79

-62.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$75.3 $75.3

-1.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.89 $1.89

-24.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$40.28 $40.28

-36.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.22 $1.22

-11.48%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

35.38%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

0.70%

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

$188 $188

$189 $189

-0.58%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.68 $49.68

28.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$70.1 $70.1

-6.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$180 $180

-57.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.31 $14.31

4.33%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,686 $2,686

-23.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$37.9K $37.9K

3.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$59.1 $59.1

8.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$61.8 $61.8

-15.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$89 $89

6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$99.6 $99.6

45.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$4,288 $4,288

-44.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,471 $2,471

-35.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$5,432 $5,432

-12.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,277 $4,277

-34.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,854 $2,854

25.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,475 $2,475

0.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$8,246 $8,246

-36.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Redwood City, CA: October 29, 2025

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