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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,254 per month in Redwood City, CA vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,282 per month in Redwood City, CA vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,309 per month in Redwood City, CA vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Redwood City, CA costs about 37% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Redwood City, CA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Redwood City, CA by 210%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.87 $24.87

$19.86 $19.86

25.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 $109

$88.3 $88.3

23.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.09 $13.09

$13.23 $13.23

-1.06%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$5.86 $5.86

-7.17%

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

$3.20 $3.20

$2.61 $2.61

22.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.32 $2.32

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.84 $7.84

$7.03 $7.03

11.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.17 $9.17

$9.25 $9.25

-0.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.34 $1.34

14.93%

White Bread (500g)

$5.21 $5.21

$4.19 $4.19

24.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.50 $5.50

-3.64%

Eggs

$7.64 $7.64

$4.71 $4.71

62.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.72 $14.72

2.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$14.53 $14.53

-25.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.65 $19.65

$19.69 $19.69

-0.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$5.64 $5.64

13.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.97 $1.97

45.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$4.04 $4.04

15.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.46 $6.46

$5.07 $5.07

27.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.94 $2.94

9.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.92 $2.92

33.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.28 $2.28

27.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.12 $3.12

-10.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.22 $12.22

$16.19 $16.19

-24.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.36 $20.36

$15.17 $15.17

34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.67 $2.67

-1.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.48 $3.48

3.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.69 $4.69

$2.54 $2.54

84.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.16 $3.16

30.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.37 $1.37

-10.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.89 $38.89

$22.66 $22.66

71.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.20 $1.20

19.17%

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

$37.5K $37.5K

$37.0K $37.0K

1.23%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.96%

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

$248 $248

$190 $190

30.60%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$68.5 $68.5

-22.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.7 $70.7

$61.1 $61.1

15.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$244 $244

$63.8 $63.8

282.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.72 $29.72

$27.80 $27.80

6.91%

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 $17.98

$18.28 $18.28

-1.64%

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

$2,962 $2,962

$1,525 $1,525

94.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.4K $42.4K

$32.0K $32.0K

32.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.21 $44.21

$64.0 $64.0

-30.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.47 $25.47

$54.4 $54.4

-53.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 $99.8

$101 $101

-0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$153 $153

-25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,206 $4,206

$2,421 $2,421

73.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,509 $2,509

$1,690 $1,690

48.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,847 $5,847

$4,584 $4,584

27.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,479 $4,479

$2,782 $2,782

60.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,971 $7,971

$4,777 $4,777

66.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

6.38

1.25%

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

Last update for Redwood City, CA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,206 in Redwood City, CA versus $2,421 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 67% higher in Redwood City, 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 $109 in Redwood City, CA versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $501 vs $465 – making Chicago, IL 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

Redwood City, CA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,254 in Redwood City, CA, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 37% apart. Redwood City, CA costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,381 per month in Redwood City, CA and $4,659 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 $109 in Redwood City, CA and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Redwood City, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,254 in Redwood City, CA and $3,106 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 $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $4,254 in Redwood City, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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