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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.2% cheaper than Ridgecrest, CA without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19% cheaper than Ridgecrest, CA without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.42 $25.42

-18.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$101 $101

-1.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.77 $14.77

-18.96%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6 $6

-7.33%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.96 $2.96

5.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.97 $1.97

22.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.06 $8.06

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.41 $9.41

-10.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.34 $1.34

-22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.8 $4.8

-13.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.7 $7.7

-28.31%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.53 $5.53

-15.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$22.77 $22.77

-37.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.03 $17.03

-12.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$29.46 $29.46

-34.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.96 $6.96

-25.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.91 $2.91

-41.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.83 $5.83

-24.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$13.48 $13.48

-66.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$10.19 $10.19

-75.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$5.77 $5.77

-52.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$4.05 $4.05

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.95 $2.95

-8.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.17 $13.17

15.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.62 $13.62

20.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.01 $4.01

-7.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.93 $5.93

-43.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$4.39 $4.39

-67.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$51 $51

-50.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.21 $1.21

-10.74%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35K $35K

-7.48%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.17%

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

$188 $188

$230 $230

-18.20%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$61.7 $61.7

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$76.5 $76.5

-14.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$31.6 $31.6

142.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$9.36 $9.36

59.51%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,422 $1,422

45.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$37.1K $37.1K

5.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$70.3 $70.3

-8.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.47 $45.47

15.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$105 $105

-8.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$143 $143

1.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$908 $908

161.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$896 $896

76.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,908 $1,908

149.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,823 $1,823

54.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$13.5K $13.5K

-73.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,544 $2,544

-2.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,422 $5,422

-2.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.68

-1.20%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ridgecrest, CA: October 29, 2025

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