Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Redwood City, CA is 0.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Redwood City, CA is 20.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.91 $27.91

$20.82 $20.82

34.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$100 $100

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.41 $14.41

$11.97 $11.97

20.38%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.56 $5.56

-14.03%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$3.11 $3.11

-15.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.42 $2.42

-7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.86 $6.86

-13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$8.45 $8.45

-15.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.04 $1.04

39.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 $2.38

$4.15 $4.15

-42.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$5.52 $5.52

2.36%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$4.65 $4.65

3.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$14.33 $14.33

-45.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.63 $14.63

$14.88 $14.88

-1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.95 $16.95

$19.34 $19.34

-12.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.17 $5.17

28.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.71 $1.71

29.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.41 $4.41

-16.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.51 $4.51

-31.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.53 $2.53

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.74 $2.74

23.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.43 $2.43

-9.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.7 $2.7

11.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.9 $8.9

$15.19 $15.19

-41.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.17 $17.17

$16.42 $16.42

4.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.7 $3.7

10.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.79 $6.79

$2.53 $2.53

168.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$74.1 $74.1

1.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.34 $3.34

5.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.42 $1.42

33.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.28 $40.28

$25.42 $25.42

58.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.08 $1.08

12.96%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.13%

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

$26K $26K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.69%

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

$189 $189

$188 $188

0.58%

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

$49.68 $49.68

$63.7 $63.7

-22.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$65.2 $65.2

7.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$180 $180

$76.7 $76.7

134.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.31 $14.31

$14.93 $14.93

-4.15%

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

$2,686 $2,686

$2,063 $2,063

30.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.9K $37.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-3.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 $59.1

$64.3 $64.3

-8.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.8 $61.8

$52.4 $52.4

18.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89 $89

$95.2 $95.2

-6.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 $99.6

$145 $145

-31.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,288 $4,288

$2,378 $2,378

80.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$1,584 $1,584

55.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,432 $5,432

$4,763 $4,763

14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,277 $4,277

$2,815 $2,815

51.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,854 $2,854

$3,588 $3,588

-20.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,475 $2,475

$2,490 $2,490

-0.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,246 $8,246

$5,275 $5,275

56.32%

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 Redwood City, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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