Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Appleton, WI is 23.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Appleton, WI is 18.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.82 $17.82

$20.82 $20.82

-14.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 $57.2

$100 $100

-42.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$11.97 $11.97

-17.96%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$5.56 $5.56

-7.91%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$3.11 $3.11

-18.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.42 $2.42

-16.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 $4.42

$6.86 $6.86

-35.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 $5.05

$8.45 $8.45

-40.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.04 $1.04

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.15 $4.15

-1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.4 $5.4

$5.52 $5.52

-2.17%

Eggs

$4.46 $4.46

$4.65 $4.65

-4.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.18 $14.18

$14.33 $14.33

-1.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.88 $14.88

-0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.34 $11.34

$19.34 $19.34

-41.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$5.17 $5.17

-0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.71 $1.71

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.41 $4.41

-0.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.51 $4.51

1.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.53 $2.53

-3.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.4 $2.4

$2.43 $2.43

-1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.7 $2.7

-49.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$15.19 $15.19

-1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.62 $16.62

$16.42 $16.42

1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.7 $3.7

-4.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.53 $2.53

0.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.65 $35.65

$74.1 $74.1

-51.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.34 $3.34

0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.7 $24.7

$25.42 $25.42

-2.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.08 $1.08

-25.00%

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

$23K $23K

$32.4K $32.4K

-29.07%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.16%

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

$161 $161

$188 $188

-14.57%

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

$44.53 $44.53

$63.7 $63.7

-30.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66 $66

$65.2 $65.2

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.71 $16.71

$76.7 $76.7

-78.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.06 $14.06

$14.93 $14.93

-5.83%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$2,063 $2,063

1.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K $39.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

1.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.69 $39.69

$64.3 $64.3

-38.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 $25.05

$52.4 $52.4

-52.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$95.2 $95.2

-5.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$145 $145

-25.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,504 $1,504

$2,378 $2,378

-36.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 $1,019

$1,584 $1,584

-35.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,775 $1,775

$4,763 $4,763

-62.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$2,815 $2,815

-42.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,314 $2,314

$3,588 $3,588

-35.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,283 $2,283

$2,490 $2,490

-8.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,087 $4,087

$5,275 $5,275

-22.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.6

-1.21%

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

Last update for Appleton, WI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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