๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,531 in Milan versus $2,460 in Redding, CA.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,851 in Milan versus $3,537 in Redding, CA.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,171 in Milan versus $4,613 in Redding, CA.
๐Living in Milan is roughly 3% more expensive than Redding, CA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milan89% above, Redding, CA84% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.82โฌ19.46
$17.77$17.77
28.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.2โฌ80.4
$60.1$60.1
56.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.93โฌ11.03
$11.86$11.86
9.02%
Cappuccino
$2.12โฌ1.81
$4.98$4.98
-57.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39โฌ2.89
$2.39$2.39
41.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47โฌ1.26
$2.24$2.24
-34.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.88โฌ5.87
$5.42$5.42
26.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74โฌ4.90
$4.91$4.91
16.90%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78โฌ1.52
$1.34$1.34
32.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83โฌ2.42
$5.09$5.09
-44.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32โฌ2.84
$4.25$4.25
-21.88%
Eggs
$4.25โฌ3.62
$4.04$4.04
5.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.43โฌ16.57
$12.32$12.32
57.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.07โฌ11.15
$15.03$15.03
-13.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.60โฌ20.98
$17.00$17.00
44.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85โฌ2.43
$5.91$5.91
-51.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38โฌ2.03
$1.68$1.68
41.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.23โฌ2.76
$3.60$3.60
-10.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95โฌ3.37
$5.40$5.40
-26.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53โฌ2.15
$4.46$4.46
-43.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11โฌ1.80
$3.44$3.44
-38.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69โฌ1.44
$2.21$2.21
-23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73โฌ0.62
$1.77$1.77
-58.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96โฌ5.94
$10.10$10.10
-31.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58โฌ8.17
$12.03$12.03
-20.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47โฌ2.11
$1.46$1.46
69.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01โฌ2.56
$3.21$3.21
-6.23%
๐ Getting Around
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.58โฌ2.20
$1.54$1.54
67.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45โฌ38.77
$50.6$50.6
-10.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.13โฌ6.94
$2.91$2.91
179.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53โฌ2.16
$2.34$2.34
8.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.15โฌ33.39
$39.81$39.81
-1.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.22$1.22
73.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7Kโฌ28.8K
$24.2K$24.2K
39.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3Kโฌ31.0K
$25.5K$25.5K
42.54%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214โฌ183
$276$276
-22.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.40โฌ9.72
$52.0$52.0
-78.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16โฌ26.58
$71.8$71.8
-56.63%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.8โฌ63.0
$57.7$57.7
28.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.05โฌ31.60
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.53โฌ9.83
$9.29$9.29
24.11%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$900โฌ768
$2,778$2,778
-67.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3Kโฌ13.9K
$37.2K$37.2K
-56.12%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112โฌ95.7
$63.9$63.9
75.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6โฌ45.73
$32.37$32.37
65.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116โฌ99.0
$82.0$82.0
41.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170โฌ145
$125$125
36.53%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612โฌ1,375
$1,290$1,290
24.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,118โฌ954
$1,057$1,057
5.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,177โฌ2,710
$1,822$1,822
74.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,053โฌ1,751
$1,634$1,634
25.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.9Kโฌ9,326
$2,656$2,656
311.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,341โฌ4,556
$2,744$2,744
94.61%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Milan
Redding, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,317โฌ1,976
$3,568$3,568
-35.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
6.55
-50.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Milan: April 20, 2026
Last update for Redding, CA: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Milan and $1,290 in Redding, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐRedding, CA pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $94 in Milan vs $60 in Redding, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $400 vs $430, 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 3% 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 54% 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 $1,290 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 $900 in Milan versus $2,778 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 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Milan or Redding, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Redding, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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 โ expenses run 3% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.