Cost of Living Comparison Between Redmond, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Redmond, WA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Redmond, WA is 7.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Redmond, WA is 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.13 $20.13
$20.10 $20.10
0.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0 $70.0
$102 $102
-31.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$12.02 $12.02
0.33%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$5.62 $5.62
0.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.01 $3.01
-18.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.35 $2.35
1.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$6.98 $6.98
11.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$8.45 $8.45
-6.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.09 $1.09
26.61%
White Bread (500g)
$4.92 $4.92
$4.12 $4.12
19.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$5.57 $5.57
-22.80%
Eggs
$4.27 $4.27
$4.51 $4.51
-5.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$14.42 $14.42
20.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.27 $10.27
$15.02 $15.02
-31.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.46 $16.46
$18.98 $18.98
-13.28%
Apples (1kg)
$8.24 $8.24
$5.20 $5.20
58.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.78 $1.78
61.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.34 $4.34
-1.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.53 $4.53
14.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.55 $2.55
15.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.71 $2.71
7.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.49 $2.49
2.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.63 $2.63
20.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.69 $11.69
$15.12 $15.12
-22.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.82 $19.82
$14.91 $14.91
32.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.47 $2.47
-23.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.66 $3.66
14.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.57 $2.57
30.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.5 $88.5
$74.3 $74.3
19.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.30 $3.30
-19.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.37 $1.37
23.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.43 $29.43
$24.96 $24.96
17.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.06 $1.06
8.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$31.4K $31.4K
5.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$268 $268
$187 $187
43.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.0 $61.0
$63.0 $63.0
-3.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.5 $76.5
$65.8 $65.8
16.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 $70.3
$75.2 $75.2
-6.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.95 $12.95
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.32 $16.32
$15.13 $15.13
7.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,250 $2,250
$2,067 $2,067
8.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.4K $29.4K
$38.8K $38.8K
-24.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$64.0 $64.0
-18.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0 $53.0
$50.8 $50.8
4.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 $89.6
$97.3 $97.3
-7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$144 $144
-1.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,306 $2,306
$2,338 $2,338
-1.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,288 $2,288
$1,614 $1,614
41.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,758 $3,758
$4,764 $4,764
-21.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,557 $3,557
$2,762 $2,762
28.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,182 $7,182
$3,766 $3,766
90.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,007 $7,007
$2,614 $2,614
168.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redmond, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,060 $9,060
$5,006 $5,006
80.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Redmond, WA: February 28, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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