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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.2% more expensive than Riverside, CA without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12% more expensive than Riverside, CA without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.25 $20.25

2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$83.9 $83.9

19.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.77 $11.77

1.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.95 $4.95

12.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.68 $2.68

16.04%

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

$6.91 $6.91

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.2 $7.2

17.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 $1.07

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4 $4

3.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.03 $4.03

36.97%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.99 $6.99

-33.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.84 $10.84

32.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.97 $8.97

65.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.39 $14.39

34.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.46 $3.46

49.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.95 $1.95

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.02 $4.02

9.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.6 $5.6

-19.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.39 $4.39

-42.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.27 $3.27

-16.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.41 $1.41

72.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.19 $2.19

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.83 $10.83

40.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.15 $9.15

79.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.6 $2.6

-9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.8 $5.8

-36.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.72 $1.72

47.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$59.6 $59.6

24.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$10.05 $10.05

-66.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$4.41 $4.41

-67.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.5 $29.5

-13.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.23 $1.23

-12.20%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

35.40%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.04%

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

$188 $188

$286 $286

-34.26%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.35 $47.35

34.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.5 $59.5

9.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$35.04 $35.04

118.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$20.02 $20.02

-34.92%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.07 $14.07

6.11%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,215 $1,215

69.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

69.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.3 $56.3

14.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.87 $34.87

50.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85.6 $85.6

11.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$85.3 $85.3

69.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,086 $2,086

14.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,671 $1,671

-5.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,239 $3,239

47.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,485 $2,485

13.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,995 $3,995

-10.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,071 $4,071

-38.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,751 $3,751

40.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Riverside, CA: October 28, 2025

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