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

🙂 Solo nomad: Baraboo, WI is 40% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Baraboo, WI is 31.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.04 $15.04
$20.82 $20.82
-27.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.26 $40.26
$100 $100
-59.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.44 $11.44
$11.97 $11.97
-4.43%
Cappuccino
$5.04 $5.04
$5.56 $5.56
-9.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$3.11 $3.11
-51.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.42 $2.42
-38.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.9 $4.9
$6.86 $6.86
-28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$8.45 $8.45
-58.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.04 $1.04
-16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$4.15 $4.15
-26.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$5.52 $5.52
-39.13%
Eggs
$2.96 $2.96
$4.65 $4.65
-36.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.78 $7.78
$14.33 $14.33
-45.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.3 $11.3
$14.88 $14.88
-24.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.6 $11.6
$19.34 $19.34
-40.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$5.17 $5.17
-21.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.71 $1.71
-26.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$4.41 $4.41
-33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.51 $4.51
-23.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.53 $2.53
-49.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.74 $2.74
-12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.43 $2.43
-30.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.7 $2.7
-21.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.28 $11.28
$15.19 $15.19
-25.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.34 $6.34
$16.42 $16.42
-61.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.7 $3.7
-7.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.34 $3.34
5.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.7 $28.7
$25.42 $25.42
12.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.08 $1.08
-12.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$188 $188
-6.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5 $52.5
$63.7 $63.7
-17.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52 $52
$65.2 $65.2
-20.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.58 $29.58
$76.7 $76.7
-61.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01 $11.01
$14.93 $14.93
-26.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,374 $1,374
$2,063 $2,063
-33.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.54 $44.54
$64.3 $64.3
-30.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38 $39.38
$52.4 $52.4
-24.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 $66.2
$95.2 $95.2
-30.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$2,378 $2,378
-44.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$1,584 $1,584
-18.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,809 $1,809
$4,763 $4,763
-62.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,806 $1,806
$2,815 $2,815
-35.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,734 $2,734
$3,588 $3,588
-23.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,475 $2,475
$2,490 $2,490
-0.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baraboo, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
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 Baraboo, WI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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