Cost of Living Comparison Between Redondo Beach, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Redondo Beach, CA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,084 per month in Redondo Beach, CA vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,607 per month in Redondo Beach, CA vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,130 per month in Redondo Beach, CA vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Redondo Beach, CA costs about 33% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Redondo Beach, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Redondo Beach, CA by 205%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$20.91 $20.91

-3.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 $81.8

$98.1 $98.1

-16.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$11.86 $11.86

2.45%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.60 $5.60

-9.46%

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

$3.52 $3.52

$3.07 $3.07

14.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.47 $2.47

-11.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$7.14 $7.14

-0.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.08 $8.08

-2.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.05 $1.05

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.11 $4.11

-0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$5.61 $5.61

-16.04%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$4.51 $4.51

58.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 $10.56

$14.27 $14.27

-26.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$14.89 $14.89

-4.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$19.19 $19.19

-20.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.14 $5.14

-33.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.77 $1.77

-6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.39 $4.39

-5.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$4.56 $4.56

21.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.54 $2.54

30.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.75 $2.75

8.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.42 $2.42

-42.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.62 $2.62

-19.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$14.92 $14.92

-27.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.37 $13.37

$14.80 $14.80

-9.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.46 $2.46

-19.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.73 $3.73

-4.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.48 $2.48

-21.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.18 $3.18

105.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.42 $1.42

40.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 $29.47

$24.94 $24.94

18.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.06 $1.06

22.64%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-25.46%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-7.51%

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

$198 $198

$185 $185

7.27%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$61.7 $61.7

-13.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$66.9 $66.9

-8.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.4 $74.4

$75.2 $75.2

-1.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$13.80 $13.80

$14.71 $14.71

-6.19%

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

$1,188 $1,188

$2,020 $2,020

-41.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

-40.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.92 $46.92

$64.6 $64.6

-27.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.41 $33.41

$52.5 $52.5

-36.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 $84.6

$97.8 $97.8

-13.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.2 $85.2

$148 $148

-42.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,173 $3,173

$2,313 $2,313

37.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,590 $1,590

71.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,037 $5,037

$4,608 $4,608

9.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,376 $4,376

$2,779 $2,779

57.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,647 $7,647

$3,922 $3,922

94.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,441 $6,441

$2,613 $2,613

146.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,773 $7,773

$5,217 $5,217

48.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.6

0.61%

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

Last update for Redondo Beach, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,173 in Redondo Beach, CA versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 49% higher in Redondo Beach, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Redondo Beach, CA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $447 – making Redondo Beach, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Redondo Beach, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Redondo Beach, CA costs about 33% more than Chicago, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,125 per month in Redondo Beach, CA and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Redondo Beach, CA and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Redondo Beach, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,084 in Redondo Beach, CA and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,077 in Chicago, IL to $4,084 in Redondo Beach, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Redondo Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.