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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,166 in Baraboo, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $3,952 in Baraboo, WI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 28% more expensive than Baraboo, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Baraboo, WI 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$15.09 $15.09

36.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$40.38 $40.38

148.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.46 $11.46

3.49%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.99 $4.99

11.02%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.53 $1.53

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.47 $1.47

68.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.10 $5.10

35.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$3.48 $3.48

133.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.82 $0.82

26.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.11 $3.11

25.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.26 $3.26

66.26%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$2.95 $2.95

51.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$7.57 $7.57

91.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.44 $11.44

32.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$11.19 $11.19

72.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.01 $4.01

34.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.26 $1.26

34.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.96 $2.96

45.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.47 $3.47

29.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.22 $1.22

109.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.49 $2.49

8.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.61 $1.61

49.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.17 $2.17

20.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$11.22 $11.22

33.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.46 $8.46

73.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.74 $1.74

42.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.29 $3.29

12.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.99 $1.99

28.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.44 $3.44

-4.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.56 $1.56

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.67 $29.67

-16.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

29.46%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.28%

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

$183 $183

$174 $174

5.47%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$52.0 $52.0

19.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$51.0 $51.0

27.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$29.40 $29.40

158.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$10.80 $10.80

36.57%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,324 $1,324

55.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.1K $23.1K

66.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$45.84 $45.84

39.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.28 $39.28

31.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$67.7 $67.7

43.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$110 $110

34.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,296 $1,296

81.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,292 $1,292

22.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$1,784 $1,784

163.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,779 $1,779

52.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,174 $2,174

82.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,177 $2,177

20.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

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 20, 2026

Last update for Baraboo, WI: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $40 in Baraboo, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $308 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 28% 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 $4,577 in Chicago, IL and $3,568 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,379 in Baraboo, WI versus $3,051 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 $2,379 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 28% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.