Riverside, CA vs Chicago, IL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Chicago, IL is 2.7% less expensive than Riverside, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Riverside works out to about $73,000 in Chicago, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 13.4% less in Chicago. Goods are 5.7% higher and other services 0.8% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 43.8% lower in Chicago.
- Typical asking rent is $2,163 a month in Chicago and $2,533 in Riverside, $4,440 a year less in Chicago (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $356,000 in Chicago and $580,000 in Riverside.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.8%).
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: 13.4% lower in Chicago than in Riverside
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
All items Riverside, CA: 106.4 Chicago, IL: 103.6
Goods Riverside, CA: 101.4 Chicago, IL: 107.3
Housing (rents) Riverside, CA: 129.3 Chicago, IL: 112.0
Utilities Riverside, CA: 148.6 Chicago, IL: 83.6
Other services Riverside, CA: 101.3 Chicago, IL: 100.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 106.4 | 103.6 |
| Goods | 101.4 | 107.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 129.3 | 112.0 |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 83.6 |
| Other services | 101.3 | 100.5 |
| Category | Riverside | Chicago | Chicago vs Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 106.4 | 103.6 | −2.7% |
| Goods | 101.4 | 107.3 | +5.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 129.3 | 112.0 | −13.4% |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 83.6 | −43.8% |
| Other services | 101.3 | 100.5 | −0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,533 | $2,163 | −14.6% |
| Typical home value | $580,000 | $356,000 | −38.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Riverside | $75,000 | $73,000 | −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 Riverside and Chicago has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 2.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.3 | 105.4 |
| 2009 | 106.2 | 106.5 |
| 2010 | 105.2 | 106.1 |
| 2011 | 104.6 | 106.9 |
| 2012 | 104.5 | 105.1 |
| 2013 | 105.7 | 104.2 |
| 2014 | 107.1 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 107.1 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 105.6 | 103.8 |
| 2017 | 102.8 | 105.2 |
| 2018 | 106.0 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 105.7 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 104.4 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 105.6 | 105.5 |
| 2022 | 106.7 | 105.7 |
| 2023 | 107.3 | 102.5 |
| 2024 | 106.4 | 103.6 |
Goods
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 104.5 |
| 2009 | 100.8 | 106.2 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 104.8 |
| 2011 | 99.7 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 102.0 | 103.2 |
| 2013 | 105.3 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 104.7 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 103.2 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 100.1 | 99.1 |
| 2017 | 99.3 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 99.8 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 100.2 | 105.2 |
| 2020 | 102.8 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 100.7 | 106.3 |
| 2022 | 102.5 | 106.6 |
| 2023 | 102.0 | 104.3 |
| 2024 | 101.4 | 107.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 138.0 | 124.0 |
| 2009 | 134.2 | 122.9 |
| 2010 | 131.7 | 124.5 |
| 2011 | 129.4 | 122.6 |
| 2012 | 123.8 | 119.8 |
| 2013 | 126.2 | 122.7 |
| 2014 | 125.1 | 122.6 |
| 2015 | 121.6 | 122.4 |
| 2016 | 124.6 | 121.4 |
| 2017 | 123.6 | 119.7 |
| 2018 | 126.1 | 117.8 |
| 2019 | 128.8 | 116.3 |
| 2020 | 126.3 | 117.3 |
| 2021 | 129.6 | 114.0 |
| 2022 | 129.2 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 132.0 | 111.0 |
| 2024 | 129.3 | 112.0 |
Utilities
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.7 | 95.5 |
| 2009 | 112.4 | 90.8 |
| 2010 | 114.7 | 88.6 |
| 2011 | 116.5 | 89.8 |
| 2012 | 122.9 | 86.6 |
| 2013 | 119.8 | 80.3 |
| 2014 | 130.2 | 89.7 |
| 2015 | 130.8 | 91.9 |
| 2016 | 132.5 | 92.5 |
| 2017 | 138.1 | 92.7 |
| 2018 | 145.8 | 91.1 |
| 2019 | 152.1 | 80.5 |
| 2020 | 144.5 | 81.6 |
| 2021 | 151.5 | 82.7 |
| 2022 | 155.2 | 85.5 |
| 2023 | 164.3 | 77.0 |
| 2024 | 148.6 | 83.6 |
Other services
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 99.9 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 99.1 | 104.3 |
| 2012 | 98.9 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | 98.8 | 102.6 |
| 2014 | 101.7 | 100.1 |
| 2015 | 103.8 | 100.3 |
| 2016 | 101.9 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 97.6 | 103.9 |
| 2018 | 102.5 | 102.1 |
| 2019 | 100.7 | 99.2 |
| 2020 | 97.3 | 103.0 |
| 2021 | 100.5 | 103.9 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 101.6 | 100.6 |
| 2024 | 101.3 | 100.5 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,163 in Chicago vs $2,533 in Riverside
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,294 | $1,347 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,317 | $1,375 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,342 | $1,376 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,351 | $1,363 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,366 | $1,392 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,384 | $1,414 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,405 | $1,417 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,410 | $1,391 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,444 | $1,428 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,478 | $1,458 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,498 | $1,450 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,512 | $1,430 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,538 | $1,463 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,564 | $1,492 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,591 | $1,483 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,604 | $1,467 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,622 | $1,501 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,648 | $1,532 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,672 | $1,528 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,678 | $1,511 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,697 | $1,546 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,708 | $1,545 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,789 | $1,525 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,845 | $1,484 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,917 | $1,515 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,008 | $1,587 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,133 | $1,624 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,159 | $1,630 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,226 | $1,677 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,295 | $1,743 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,312 | $1,766 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,289 | $1,758 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,314 | $1,798 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,338 | $1,851 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,347 | $1,865 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,344 | $1,856 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,368 | $1,893 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,393 | $1,943 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,422 | $1,953 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,418 | $1,954 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,446 | $1,999 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,461 | $2,055 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,462 | $2,066 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,467 | $2,059 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,493 | $2,109 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,518 | $2,163 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,533 | $2,163 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $356,000 in Chicago vs $580,000 in Riverside
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Riverside, CA
- Chicago, IL
- 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
| Riverside, CA | Chicago, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $285K | $199K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $290K | $201K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $295K | $203K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $297K | $207K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $304K | $210K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $311K | $212K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $312K | $213K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $306K | $216K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $318K | $221K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $330K | $223K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $339K | $225K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $352K | $228K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $359K | $232K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $363K | $235K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $368K | $235K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $374K | $236K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $376K | $239K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $375K | $241K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $377K | $240K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $385K | $240K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $391K | $244K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $392K | $245K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $400K | $246K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $424K | $255K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $446K | $265K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $474K | $274K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $497K | $278K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $517K | $280K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $546K | $292K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $574K | $302K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $571K | $300K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $562K | $298K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $549K | $297K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $552K | $304K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $564K | $311K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $575K | $314K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $579K | $318K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $586K | $325K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $590K | $327K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $594K | $331K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $590K | $334K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $583K | $335K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $577K | $339K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $579K | $343K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $582K | $348K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $580K | $351K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $580K | $356K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Riverside, CA
- Cost of living in Chicago, IL
- Reverse: moving from Chicago to Riverside
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.