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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,151 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,203 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,256 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 43% more than Appleton, WI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Appleton, WI by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$18.06 $18.06

13.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$57.0 $57.0

78.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$9.84 $9.84

22.26%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.08 $5.08

10.63%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.49 $2.49

23.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.49 $4.49

55.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$4.85 $4.85

67.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.98 $0.98

10.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.14 $4.14

-4.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.58 $5.58

-1.08%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.53 $4.53

0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$14.24 $14.24

2.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$15.32 $15.32

-2.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$11.53 $11.53

63.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.20 $5.20

2.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.29 $1.29

36.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.17 $4.17

5.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.57 $4.57

-4.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.46 $2.46

3.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.69 $2.69

3.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.47 $2.47

-0.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.38 $1.38

92.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$15.14 $15.14

-2.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.07 $15.07

0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.71 $1.71

43.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.46 $3.46

6.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.48 $2.48

1.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$34.75 $34.75

114.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.34 $3.34

-1.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.41 $1.41

1.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$24.77 $24.77

0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.80 $0.80

36.25%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$22.9K $22.9K

37.13%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

9.84%

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

$187 $187

$158 $158

18.74%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$44.21 $44.21

41.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$65.8 $65.8

2.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$16.91 $16.91

344.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$14.23 $14.23

6.89%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$2,027 $2,027

0.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$39.6K $39.6K

-0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$39.95 $39.95

60.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$24.94 $24.94

102.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$89.9 $89.9

6.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$108 $108

32.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,492 $1,492

57.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$992 $992

62.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,829 $1,829

158.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,636 $1,636

68.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$2,324 $2,324

63.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$2,240 $2,240

15.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,952 $3,952

19.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.52

1.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,492 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 20% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $57 in Appleton, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $404 – making Appleton, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,227 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,066 in Chicago, IL and $2,151 in Appleton, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 114% less in Appleton, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,066 in Chicago, IL and $2,151 in Appleton, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – 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 Appleton, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.