Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Appleton, WI: $2,144 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
104

Cost of Living Index in Appleton, WI
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Appleton, WI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Appleton, WI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,144

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Appleton, WI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Appleton, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,144 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Appleton, WI $2,144

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,066 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Appleton, WI $3,066

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,988 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Appleton, WI $3,988

Chicago, IL costs about 43% more than Appleton, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Appleton, WI by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$17.87 $17.87

14.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$64.1 $64.1

38.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.92 $10.92

17.67%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.50 $5.50

5.09%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.64 $2.64

3.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.23 $2.23

1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$4.52 $4.52

52.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.18 $6.18

49.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.01 $1.01

24.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.01 $3.01

17.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.18 $5.18

3.86%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.73 $4.73

-3.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$13.46 $13.46

1.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$8.31 $8.31

69.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$15.28 $15.28

18.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.01 $5.01

2.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.36 $1.36

45.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.10 $3.10

25.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.48 $4.48

7.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.05 $2.05

37.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.68 $2.68

-0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.98 $2.98

1.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.91 $10.91

27.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.18 $15.18

-0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.77 $1.77

48.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.34 $3.34

3.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$60.1 $60.1

25.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.27 $3.27

-3.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$24.93 $24.93

-0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.02 $1.02

25.49%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$35.4K $35.4K

1.13%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

5.60%

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

$192 $192

$173 $173

10.88%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$44.76 $44.76

55.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$60.5 $60.5

2.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$15.16 $15.16

215.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$41.00 $41.00

-33.90%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.64 $14.64

21.79%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,825 $1,825

-0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$10.3K $10.3K

292.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$40.75 $40.75

62.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$24.68 $24.68

108.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$50.2 $50.2

105.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$108 $108

32.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,337 $1,337

89.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$967 $967

67.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,394 $2,394

101.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,374 $1,374

98.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,423 $2,423

71.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,038 $2,038

33.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$4,160 $4,160

18.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.37

6.44%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Appleton, WI

$967 45.1% 40.3% $654

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Appleton, WI

$377 17.6% 14.1% $62

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Appleton, WI

$296 13.8% 13.9% $48

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Appleton, WI

$278 13% 14% $45

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Appleton, WI

$101 4.7% 38.5% $63

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Appleton, WI

$80 3.7% 17.6% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Appleton, WI

$44 2.1% 46.7% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,337 in Appleton, WI. 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 18% higher in Chicago, 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $64 in Appleton, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $377 – making Appleton, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Appleton, WI

🕒 Local time

13:59 1:59 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

74,139

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.894 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Appleton, WI 270 km

From you

Chicago, IL
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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

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

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 43%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,216 in Appleton, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Appleton, WI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,337 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,144 in Appleton, WI. That makes Appleton, WI about 30% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 20% less in Appleton, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Appleton, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,144, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Appleton, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,144 in Appleton, WI to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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