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

🙂 Solo nomad: Redding, CA is 5.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Redding, CA is 16% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19 $18.19
$20.82 $20.82
-12.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$100 $100
-39.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 $12.19
$11.97 $11.97
1.84%
Cappuccino
$5.03 $5.03
$5.56 $5.56
-9.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.11 $3.11
-24.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.42 $2.42
-6.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.63 $5.63
$6.86 $6.86
-17.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$8.45 $8.45
-42.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.04 $1.04
32.69%
White Bread (500g)
$5.1 $5.1
$4.15 $4.15
22.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$5.52 $5.52
-24.64%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$4.65 $4.65
-12.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 $12.69
$14.33 $14.33
-11.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.76 $14.76
$14.88 $14.88
-0.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.22 $17.22
$19.34 $19.34
-10.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$5.17 $5.17
12.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.71 $1.71
-2.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.41 $4.41
-22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$4.51 $4.51
21.51%
Potato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.53 $2.53
78.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$2.74 $2.74
27.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.43 $2.43
-11.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.7 $2.7
-37.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28 $10.28
$15.19 $15.19
-32.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.78 $11.78
$16.42 $16.42
-28.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.4 $1.4
$2.35 $2.35
-40.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.7 $3.7
-10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.53 $2.53
-40.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.92 $49.92
$74.1 $74.1
-32.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.34 $3.34
-11.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.42 $1.42
65.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.97 $39.97
$25.42 $25.42
57.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.08 $1.08
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K $23.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 $276
$188 $188
46.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$63.7 $63.7
-16.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4 $72.4
$65.2 $65.2
11.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58 $58
$76.7 $76.7
-24.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.95 $8.95
$14.93 $14.93
-40.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$2,063 $2,063
33.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.4K $37.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-4.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 $63.7
$64.3 $64.3
-0.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.18 $32.18
$52.4 $52.4
-38.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.8 $81.8
$95.2 $95.2
-14.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$145 $145
-12.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,308 $1,308
$2,378 $2,378
-45.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 $1,053
$1,584 $1,584
-33.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,843 $1,843
$4,763 $4,763
-61.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 $1,589
$2,815 $2,815
-43.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$3,588 $3,588
-26.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,689 $2,689
$2,490 $2,490
7.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redding, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,744 $3,744
$5,275 $5,275
-29.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Redding, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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