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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,352 in Baraboo, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,360 in Baraboo, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,368 in Baraboo, WI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 32% more expensive than in Baraboo, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Baraboo, WI 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$14.19 $14.19

39.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$40.60 $40.60

117.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$12.01 $12.01

10.16%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.97 $4.97

17.91%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.53 $1.53

70.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.49 $1.49

55.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.04 $5.04

39.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$3.47 $3.47

166.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.78 $0.78

71.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.89 $2.89

44.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.85 $2.85

92.98%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$2.93 $2.93

60.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$7.84 $7.84

87.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.18 $11.18

29.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$10.53 $10.53

86.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.86 $3.86

46.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.27 $1.27

55.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.47 $3.47

16.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.43 $5.43

-6.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.79 $1.79

64.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.21 $3.21

-9.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.62 $1.62

40.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.21 $2.21

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$12.22 $12.22

32.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$8.34 $8.34

81.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.77 $1.77

50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.45 $3.45

0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.99 $1.99

27.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.98 $2.98

6.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.78 $1.78

-23.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$30.54 $30.54

-25.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.99 $0.99

21.21%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$24.8K $24.8K

49.04%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.92%

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

$190 $190

$172 $172

10.06%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$52.5 $52.5

30.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$51.9 $51.9

17.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$41.94 $41.94

52.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$11.31 $11.31

61.63%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,524 $1,524

0.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$23.7K $23.7K

35.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$56.5 $56.5

13.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$41.04 $41.04

32.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.7 $88.7

13.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$116 $116

31.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,588 $1,588

52.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,281 $1,281

31.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,533 $2,533

80.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,126 $2,126

30.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,229 $2,229

87.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,226 $2,226

23.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.16

3.57%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Baraboo, WI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,588 in Baraboo, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $41.00 in Baraboo, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $316 per month, with Baraboo, WI cheaper across the board.

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 Baraboo, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baraboo, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baraboo, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,659 in Chicago, IL and $3,527 in Baraboo, WI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,588 in Baraboo, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,352 in Baraboo, WI – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,352 in Baraboo, WI versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Baraboo, WI but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Baraboo, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baraboo, WI delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,352 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baraboo, WI hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Baraboo, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Baraboo, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.