Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterbury, CT and Redwood City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterbury, CT and Redwood City, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,706 in Waterbury, CT versus $4,048 in Redwood City, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,254 in Waterbury, CT versus $5,886 in Redwood City, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,802 in Waterbury, CT versus $7,725 in Redwood City, CA.

Living in Waterbury, CT costs roughly 8% less than in Redwood City, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waterbury, CT 177% above, Redwood City, CA 202% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.02 $30.02

$27.01 $27.01

11.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$100 $100

-10.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.05 $9.05

$14.57 $14.57

-37.89%

Cappuccino

$4.72 $4.72

$4.97 $4.97

-5.03%

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

$3.28 $3.28

$2.59 $2.59

26.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.16 $2.16

24.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.98 $5.98

30.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.16 $10.16

$7.08 $7.08

43.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.47 $1.47

-12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.40 $2.40

114.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.18 $8.18

$5.64 $5.64

45.04%

Eggs

$6.95 $6.95

$4.84 $4.84

43.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 $17.30

$7.82 $7.82

121.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$14.91 $14.91

10.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.47 $20.47

$16.75 $16.75

22.21%

Apples (1kg)

$7.62 $7.62

$6.45 $6.45

18.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.22 $2.22

-0.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.68 $3.68

56.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.46 $6.46

$3.14 $3.14

105.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.37 $2.37

55.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.49 $3.49

12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.21 $2.21

42.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.99 $2.99

-14.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 $10.42

$8.87 $8.87

17.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$12.11 $12.11

25.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.69 $1.69

74.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.95 $3.95

-15.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 $1.78

$7.20 $7.20

-75.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 $63.0

$74.8 $74.8

-15.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.43 $3.43

48.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.87 $1.87

6.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.82 $41.82

$40.09 $40.09

4.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.21 $1.21

-23.97%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$24.3K $24.3K

43.54%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

7.77%

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

$184 $184

$193 $193

-4.56%

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

$60.0 $60.0

$50.4 $50.4

18.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$72.3 $72.3

-14.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 $53.8

$179 $179

-69.97%

Cinema Ticket

$19.82 $19.82

$14.65 $14.65

35.29%

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

$1,290 $1,290

$2,698 $2,698

-52.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.4K $56.4K

$38.2K $38.2K

47.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.13 $42.13

$59.9 $59.9

-29.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.19 $45.19

$60.3 $60.3

-25.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 $71.9

$89.3 $89.3

-19.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$100 $100

34.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 $1,473

$4,174 $4,174

-64.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,068 $2,068

$2,503 $2,503

-17.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,605 $2,605

$5,455 $5,455

-52.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,355 $3,355

$4,227 $4,227

-20.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,391 $3,391

$8,032 $8,032

-57.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.55

-1.68%

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

Last update for Waterbury, CT: May 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,473 in Waterbury, CT and $4,174 in Redwood City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 137% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $90.0 in Waterbury, CT vs $100 in Redwood City, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $541 vs $404, with Redwood City, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Waterbury, CT vs Redwood City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waterbury, CT and Redwood City, CA differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($3,706 vs $4,048 including rent). Waterbury, CT is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Redwood City, CA earns 137% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,473 in Waterbury, CT versus $4,174 in Redwood City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Redwood City, CA pay roughly 34% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Waterbury, CT – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $100 in Redwood City, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Waterbury, CT is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Waterbury, CT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.