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

😐 Solo nomad: Ridgecrest, CA is 15.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Ridgecrest, CA is 23.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$20.82 $20.82

22.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$100 $100

1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.77 $14.77

$11.97 $11.97

23.39%

Cappuccino

$6 $6

$5.56 $5.56

7.91%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$3.11 $3.11

-4.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.42 $2.42

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$6.86 $6.86

17.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.41 $9.41

$8.45 $8.45

11.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.8 $4.8

$4.15 $4.15

15.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.7 $7.7

$5.52 $5.52

39.49%

Eggs

$5.53 $5.53

$4.65 $4.65

18.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.77 $22.77

$14.33 $14.33

58.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$14.88 $14.88

14.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$29.46 $29.46

$19.34 $19.34

52.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.17 $5.17

34.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.71 $1.71

70.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.41 $4.41

32.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$4.51 $4.51

198.89%

Potato (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$2.53 $2.53

302.77%

Onion (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.74 $2.74

110.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.43 $2.43

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.7 $2.7

9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 $13.17

$15.19 $15.19

-13.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.62 $13.62

$16.42 $16.42

-17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.35 $2.35

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.7 $3.7

8.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.53 $2.53

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 $5.93

$3.34 $3.34

77.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.42 $1.42

209.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$51 $51

$25.42 $25.42

100.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.08 $1.08

12.04%

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

$35K $35K

$32.4K $32.4K

8.08%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.07%

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

$230 $230

$188 $188

22.24%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$63.7 $63.7

-3.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.5 $76.5

$65.2 $65.2

17.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.6 $31.6

$76.7 $76.7

-58.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$9.36 $9.36

$14.93 $14.93

-37.31%

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

$1,422 $1,422

$2,063 $2,063

-31.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.1K $37.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-5.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 $70.3

$64.3 $64.3

9.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.47 $45.47

$52.4 $52.4

-13.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$95.2 $95.2

9.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$145 $145

-1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 $908

$2,378 $2,378

-61.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$896 $896

$1,584 $1,584

-43.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 $1,908

$4,763 $4,763

-59.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 $1,823

$2,815 $2,815

-35.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.5K $13.5K

$3,588 $3,588

275.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 $2,544

$2,490 $2,490

2.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,422 $5,422

$5,275 $5,275

2.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

6.6

1.21%

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

Last update for Ridgecrest, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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