Chicago, IL vs Riverside, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Riverside, CA is 2.7% more expensive than Chicago, IL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Chicago works out to about $77,100 in Riverside, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 15.4% more in Riverside. Goods are 5.4% lower and other services 0.8% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 77.8% higher in Riverside.
- Typical asking rent is $2,533 a month in Riverside and $2,163 in Chicago, $4,440 a year more in Riverside (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $580,000 in Riverside and $356,000 in Chicago.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.9%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 15.4% higher in Riverside than in Chicago
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
All items Chicago, IL: 103.6 Riverside, CA: 106.4
Goods Chicago, IL: 107.3 Riverside, CA: 101.4
Housing (rents) Chicago, IL: 112.0 Riverside, CA: 129.3
Utilities Chicago, IL: 83.6 Riverside, CA: 148.6
Other services Chicago, IL: 100.5 Riverside, CA: 101.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 106.4 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 101.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 129.3 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 148.6 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 101.3 |
| Category | Chicago | Riverside | Riverside vs Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 106.4 | +2.7% |
| Goods | 107.3 | 101.4 | −5.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 129.3 | +15.4% |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 148.6 | +77.8% |
| Other services | 100.5 | 101.3 | +0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,163 | $2,533 | +17.1% |
| Typical home value | $356,000 | $580,000 | +63.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Chicago | $75,000 | $77,100 | +2.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Chicago and Riverside has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 2.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.4 | 106.3 |
| 2009 | 106.5 | 106.2 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 105.2 |
| 2011 | 106.9 | 104.6 |
| 2012 | 105.1 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 104.2 | 105.7 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 107.1 |
| 2015 | 102.6 | 107.1 |
| 2016 | 103.8 | 105.6 |
| 2017 | 105.2 | 102.8 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 106.0 |
| 2019 | 102.6 | 105.7 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.4 |
| 2021 | 105.5 | 105.6 |
| 2022 | 105.7 | 106.7 |
| 2023 | 102.5 | 107.3 |
| 2024 | 103.6 | 106.4 |
Goods
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.5 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 106.2 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 104.8 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 105.8 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 103.2 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 105.3 |
| 2014 | 101.7 | 104.7 |
| 2015 | 99.2 | 103.2 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 100.1 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 105.2 | 100.2 |
| 2020 | 103.4 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 106.3 | 100.7 |
| 2022 | 106.6 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 104.3 | 102.0 |
| 2024 | 107.3 | 101.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 124.0 | 138.0 |
| 2009 | 122.9 | 134.2 |
| 2010 | 124.5 | 131.7 |
| 2011 | 122.6 | 129.4 |
| 2012 | 119.8 | 123.8 |
| 2013 | 122.7 | 126.2 |
| 2014 | 122.6 | 125.1 |
| 2015 | 122.4 | 121.6 |
| 2016 | 121.4 | 124.6 |
| 2017 | 119.7 | 123.6 |
| 2018 | 117.8 | 126.1 |
| 2019 | 116.3 | 128.8 |
| 2020 | 117.3 | 126.3 |
| 2021 | 114.0 | 129.6 |
| 2022 | 111.2 | 129.2 |
| 2023 | 111.0 | 132.0 |
| 2024 | 112.0 | 129.3 |
Utilities
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.5 | 113.7 |
| 2009 | 90.8 | 112.4 |
| 2010 | 88.6 | 114.7 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 116.5 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 122.9 |
| 2013 | 80.3 | 119.8 |
| 2014 | 89.7 | 130.2 |
| 2015 | 91.9 | 130.8 |
| 2016 | 92.5 | 132.5 |
| 2017 | 92.7 | 138.1 |
| 2018 | 91.1 | 145.8 |
| 2019 | 80.5 | 152.1 |
| 2020 | 81.6 | 144.5 |
| 2021 | 82.7 | 151.5 |
| 2022 | 85.5 | 155.2 |
| 2023 | 77.0 | 164.3 |
| 2024 | 83.6 | 148.6 |
Other services
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.0 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 103.0 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 104.3 | 99.1 |
| 2012 | 103.4 | 98.9 |
| 2013 | 102.6 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 100.1 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 100.3 | 103.8 |
| 2016 | 102.8 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 103.9 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 102.1 | 102.5 |
| 2019 | 99.2 | 100.7 |
| 2020 | 103.0 | 97.3 |
| 2021 | 103.9 | 100.5 |
| 2022 | 104.8 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 100.6 | 101.6 |
| 2024 | 100.5 | 101.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,533 in Riverside vs $2,163 in Chicago
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,347 | $1,294 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,375 | $1,317 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,376 | $1,342 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,363 | $1,351 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,392 | $1,366 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,414 | $1,384 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,417 | $1,405 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,391 | $1,410 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,428 | $1,444 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,458 | $1,478 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,450 | $1,498 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,430 | $1,512 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,463 | $1,538 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,492 | $1,564 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,483 | $1,591 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,467 | $1,604 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,501 | $1,622 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,532 | $1,648 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,528 | $1,672 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,511 | $1,678 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,546 | $1,697 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,545 | $1,708 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,525 | $1,789 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,484 | $1,845 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,515 | $1,917 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,587 | $2,008 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,624 | $2,133 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,630 | $2,159 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,677 | $2,226 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,743 | $2,295 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,766 | $2,312 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,758 | $2,289 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,798 | $2,314 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,851 | $2,338 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,865 | $2,347 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,856 | $2,344 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,893 | $2,368 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,943 | $2,393 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,953 | $2,422 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,954 | $2,418 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,999 | $2,446 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,055 | $2,461 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,066 | $2,462 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,059 | $2,467 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,109 | $2,493 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,163 | $2,518 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,163 | $2,533 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $580,000 in Riverside vs $356,000 in Chicago
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Chicago, IL
- Riverside, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $199K | $285K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $201K | $290K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $203K | $295K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $207K | $297K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $210K | $304K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $212K | $311K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $213K | $312K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $216K | $306K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $221K | $318K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $223K | $330K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $225K | $339K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $228K | $352K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $232K | $359K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $235K | $363K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $235K | $368K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $236K | $374K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $239K | $376K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $241K | $375K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $240K | $377K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $240K | $385K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $244K | $391K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $245K | $392K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $246K | $400K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $255K | $424K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $265K | $446K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $274K | $474K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $278K | $497K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $280K | $517K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $292K | $546K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $302K | $574K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $300K | $571K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $298K | $562K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $297K | $549K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $304K | $552K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $311K | $564K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $314K | $575K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $318K | $579K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $325K | $586K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $327K | $590K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $331K | $594K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $334K | $590K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $335K | $583K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $577K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $343K | $579K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $348K | $582K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $351K | $580K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $356K | $580K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Chicago, IL
- Cost of living in Riverside, CA
- Reverse: moving from Riverside to Chicago
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.