😐A single person spends $2,708 per month in Belleville, IL vs $1,900 in Recklinghausen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,523 per month in Belleville, IL vs $2,860 in Recklinghausen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,338 per month in Belleville, IL vs $3,819 in Recklinghausen, rent included.
😐Belleville, IL costs about 43% more than Recklinghausen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Belleville, IL and Recklinghausen sit above the global median – Belleville, IL by 102%, Recklinghausen by 41%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.71$19.71
$18.23€15.71
8.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.0$67.0
$85.6€73.7
-21.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.79$10.79
$13.62€11.73
-20.78%
Cappuccino
$5.13$5.13
$3.48€3.00
47.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$2.51€2.16
-10.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$2.34€2.02
-21.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05$5.05
$4.98€4.29
1.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.16$6.16
$4.52€3.89
36.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.37€1.18
-26.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79$2.79
$2.33€2.01
19.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50$2.50
$3.25€2.80
-23.08%
Eggs
$2.91$2.91
$3.65€3.15
-20.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66$8.66
$14.91€12.84
-41.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.03$12.03
$14.81€12.76
-18.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.50$16.50
$21.88€18.85
-24.59%
Apples(1kg)
$5.54$5.54
$3.18€2.74
74.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49$1.49
$1.82€1.57
-18.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.86$5.86
$2.31€1.99
153.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.01$3.01
$4.77€4.11
-36.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.38$2.38
$1.59€1.37
49.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53$2.53
$1.68€1.45
50.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$1.93€1.66
2.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.43$2.43
$1.15€0.99
111.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54$7.54
$9.74€8.39
-22.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.43$13.43
$6.86€5.91
95.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$1.05€0.91
81.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43$3.43
$1.67€1.44
105.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$3.51€3.03
-41.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.0$78.0
$61.1€52.7
27.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44$3.44
$5.13€4.42
-32.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54$1.54
$1.82€1.57
-15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.73$40.73
$40.88€35.23
-0.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.98€1.71
-56.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K$32.7K
$31.4K€27.0K
4.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$36.5K€31.5K
-28.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245$245
$358€308
-31.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2$53.2
$28.39€24.46
87.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.4$70.4
$53.2€45.84
32.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28$42.28
$39.46€34.00
7.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.42€20.18
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.92$12.92
$13.98€12.04
-7.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,201$1,201
$452€390
165.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.1K$24.1K
$9,629€8,296
150.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6$51.6
$94.5€81.4
-45.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32$40.32
$47.83€41.21
-15.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1$90.1
$104€89.4
-13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6$73.6
$153€131
-51.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575$1,575
$637€549
147.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,370$1,370
$530€457
158.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,866$1,866
$925€797
101.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,569$1,569
$799€689
96.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,401$2,401
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,877$1,877
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belleville, IL
Recklinghausen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,244$6,244
$2,877€2,478
117.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
3.98
63.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Belleville, IL: June 7, 2026
Last update for Recklinghausen: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in Belleville, IL versus $637 in Recklinghausen. 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 117% higher in Belleville, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Belleville, IL versus $86.0 in Recklinghausen. Groceries tell a different story – $363 in Belleville, IL vs $361 in Recklinghausen – so Recklinghausen 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
Belleville, IL vs Recklinghausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Belleville, IL or Recklinghausen?
Belleville, IL costs about 43% more than Recklinghausen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Belleville, IL vs Recklinghausen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,062 per month in Belleville, IL and $2,850 in Recklinghausen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Belleville, IL or Recklinghausen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Recklinghausen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Belleville, IL and Recklinghausen?
Kindergarten costs $1,201 per month in Belleville, IL and $452 in Recklinghausen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Belleville, IL or Recklinghausen?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Belleville, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Belleville, IL or Recklinghausen?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Recklinghausen, where all-in costs run around $1,900, than in Belleville, IL at $2,708. In Recklinghausen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belleville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Recklinghausen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Belleville, IL compared to Recklinghausen?
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.
Should I move to Belleville, IL or Recklinghausen?
If budget matters most, go with Recklinghausen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belleville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Belleville, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared