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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,149 per month in Appleton, WI vs $1,665 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,204 per month in Appleton, WI vs $2,517 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,259 per month in Appleton, WI vs $3,368 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

Appleton, WI costs about 29% more than Decatur, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Appleton, WI and Decatur, IL sit above the global median – Appleton, WI by 60%, Decatur, IL by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.75 $17.75

$19.46 $19.46

-8.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 $57.5

$66.3 $66.3

-13.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.84 $9.84

$8.76 $8.76

12.33%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$5.03 $5.03

-2.39%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.20 $2.20

18.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.67 $1.67

17.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.07 $5.07

-10.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 $5.05

$6.15 $6.15

-17.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.83 $0.83

8.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.53 $2.53

62.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$2.04 $2.04

162.75%

Eggs

$4.63 $4.63

$3.56 $3.56

30.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 $14.23

$8.92 $8.92

59.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$7.53 $7.53

102.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.29 $11.29

$13.22 $13.22

-14.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.44 $4.44

21.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.16 $2.16

-40.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.38 $4.38

-3.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.33 $3.33

30.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.92 $0.92

173.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.12 $1.12

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.46 $1.46

72.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.53 $2.53

-45.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.93 $14.93

$7.20 $7.20

107.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 $14.76

$14.92 $14.92

-1.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.82 $1.82

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.01 $2.01

69.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.04 $2.04

22.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.65 $34.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.04 $3.04

4.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.68 $24.68

$28.85 $28.85

-14.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.81 $0.81

6.17%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-21.15%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

-1.88%

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

$155 $155

$85.5 $85.5

81.05%

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

$45.18 $45.18

$61.0 $61.0

-25.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$62.9 $62.9

4.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.08 $17.08

$75.6 $75.6

-77.40%

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 $13.91

$11.80 $11.80

17.88%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,297 $1,297

61.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

65.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.44 $40.44

$57.0 $57.0

-29.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 $25.14

$42.79 $42.79

-41.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$76.3 $76.3

19.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$193 $193

-44.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$875 $875

72.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 $990

$571 $571

73.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 $1,810

$1,018 $1,018

77.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 $1,636

$825 $825

98.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$956 $956

134.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,279 $2,279

$940 $940

142.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,043 $4,043

$4,486 $4,486

-9.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.56

-0.61%

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

Last update for Appleton, WI: May 31, 2026

Last update for Decatur, IL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,514 in Appleton, WI versus $875 in Decatur, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Decatur, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Appleton, WI versus $66.0 in Decatur, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Appleton, WI vs $314 in Decatur, IL – so Decatur, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Appleton, WI vs Decatur, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Appleton, WI is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,224 per month in Appleton, WI and $2,498 in Decatur, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Decatur, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Appleton, WI and $66.0 in Decatur, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Appleton, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Decatur, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,665, than in Appleton, WI at $2,149. In Decatur, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Appleton, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Decatur, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Decatur, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Appleton, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.