Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ridgefield, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ridgefield, CT

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.8% more expensive than Ridgefield, CT without rent, and 14.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.2% more expensive than Ridgefield, CT without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$32.81 $32.81
-36.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$99.6 $99.6
0.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.2 $11.2
6.88%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5 $5
11.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.49 $2.49
24.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.96 $1.96
23.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.3 $6.3
8.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.99 $7.99
5.76%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1 $1
4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.45 $3.45
20.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.22 $4.22
30.81%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.07 $12.07
18.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.63 $11.63
27.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.45 $15.45
25.18%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.95 $4.95
4.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.62 $1.62
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.29 $4.29
2.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.73 $4.73
-4.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.77 $2.77
-8.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.81 $2.81
-2.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.01 $2.01
20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.14 $2.14
26.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.55 $9.55
59.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.42 $12.42
32.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 $1.85
27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.32 $3.32
11.45%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.61 $1.61
-11.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.28 $29.28
-13.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
7.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
0.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52 $52
22.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.5 $67.5
-3.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.63 $43.63
75.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.29 $13.29
12.34%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,279 $1,279
61.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
64.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.7 $51.7
24.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.56 $40.56
29.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.1 $88.1
8.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$112 $112
29.10%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,579 $1,579
50.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,327 $1,327
19.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,596 $2,596
83.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,204 $2,204
27.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,990 $2,990
20.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,760 $2,760
-9.78%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Ridgefield, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ridgefield, CT: October 28, 2025

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