😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,508 in Milan versus $2,474 in Redding, CA.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,853 in Milan versus $3,499 in Redding, CA.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,197 in Milan versus $4,525 in Redding, CA.
😐Living in Milan is roughly 1% more expensive than Redding, CA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milan87% above, Redding, CA85% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.06€20.01
$17.95$17.95
28.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.1€79.9
$59.4$59.4
55.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.73€11.04
$12.07$12.07
5.47%
Cappuccino
$2.17€1.88
$4.74$4.74
-54.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.80
$2.34$2.34
38.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$2.14$2.14
-29.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.11€6.17
$5.42$5.42
31.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71€4.96
$4.92$4.92
16.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84€1.59
$1.32$1.32
39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81€2.44
$4.86$4.86
-42.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34€2.90
$4.30$4.30
-22.33%
Eggs
$4.31€3.74
$3.96$3.96
8.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74€17.13
$12.52$12.52
57.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.02€11.30
$15.06$15.06
-13.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.69€21.42
$16.60$16.60
48.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84€2.47
$5.97$5.97
-52.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31€2.01
$1.64$1.64
40.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.37€2.92
$3.61$3.61
-6.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94€3.42
$5.63$5.63
-30.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.59€2.25
$4.51$4.51
-42.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.90
$3.42$3.42
-35.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63€1.41
$2.11$2.11
-22.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.61
$1.69$1.69
-58.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88€5.96
$10.09$10.09
-31.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.11€7.90
$10.68$10.68
-14.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.04
$1.44$1.44
63.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.60
$3.31$3.31
-9.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.49€2.16
$1.53$1.53
62.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.58€39.55
$49.36$49.36
-7.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.13€7.05
$2.94$2.94
176.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.63€2.28
$2.44$2.44
7.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.61€34.37
$39.76$39.76
-0.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.78
$1.28$1.28
60.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K€29.0K
$23.8K$23.8K
40.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K€31.6K
$25.5K$25.5K
42.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216€187
$279$279
-22.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71€10.16
$52.8$52.8
-77.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.47€26.44
$70.4$70.4
-56.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.1€65.2
$56.8$56.8
32.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.13€32.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.74€10.19
$8.90$8.90
31.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$875€759
$2,728$2,728
-67.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.5K
$38.4K$38.4K
-56.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115€99.9
$63.6$63.6
80.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2€46.19
$32.32$32.32
64.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€99.7
$80.9$80.9
42.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$171€148
$126$126
36.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,399
$1,291$1,291
24.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,137€987
$1,054$1,054
7.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,138€2,722
$1,862$1,862
68.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,084€1,808
$1,606$1,606
29.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.1K€9,587
$2,686$2,686
311.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,565€4,828
$2,668$2,668
108.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,270€1,970
$3,525$3,525
-35.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
6.55
-50.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Milan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Redding, CA: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Milan and $1,291 in Redding, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redding, CA pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $92.0 in Milan vs $59.0 in Redding, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $400 vs $424, with Milan cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Milan vs Redding, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redding, CA cheaper than Milan?
Redding, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Milan or Redding, CA?
On paper, Redding, CA earns 55% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Milan and Redding, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Milan versus $1,291 in Redding, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $875 in Milan versus $2,728 in Redding, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Milan and Redding, CA?
Shoppers in Milan pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Milan or Redding, CA?
At $2,474 in Redding, CA versus $2,508 in Milan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Redding, CA but tight or insufficient in Milan. The gap between the two cities makes Redding, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Milan or Redding, CA more family-friendly?
For families, Redding, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Milan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Milan or Redding, CA?
Safety-wise, Milan and Redding, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Redding, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.