Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Eau Claire, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Eau Claire, WI

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.2% more expensive than Eau Claire, WI without rent, and 38.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 40.1% more expensive than Eau Claire, WI without rent, and 53% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.74 $14.74
41.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.2 $75.2
33.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.92 $9.92
20.67%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.03 $5.03
10.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.72 $2.72
14.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.53 $1.53
58.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.67 $3.67
86.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.7 $5.7
48.25%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.79 $0.79
31.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.4 $3.4
22.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.32 $5.32
3.76%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.36 $3.36
38.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.81 $13.81
3.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.22 $13.22
12.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.12 $14.12
36.97%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.38 $4.38
18.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.08 $1.08
58.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.94 $5.94
-25.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.56 $4.56
-1.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.66 $2.66
-4.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.03 $3.03
-9.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.52 $1.52
59.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.94 $1.94
39.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.04 $10.04
51.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.17 $12.17
34.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.17 $2.17
8.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.71 $4.71
-21.44%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.18 $2.18
16.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$50.6 $50.6
46.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.46 $4.46
-25.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.13 $2.13
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.28 $41.28
-38.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.76 $0.76
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.4K $25.4K
27.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.71%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$215 $215
-12.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.45 $48.45
31.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.9 $70.9
-8.07%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$44.93 $44.93
70.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.74 $19.74
-33.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.37 $10.37
43.97%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,001 $1,001
106.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25K $25K
56.69%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.35 $46.35
38.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$29.6 $29.6
76.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-6.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$89.7 $89.7
61.25%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,081 $1,081
120.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$937 $937
69.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,517 $1,517
213.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,260 $1,260
123.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,973 $1,973
81.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,965 $1,965
26.71%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Eau Claire, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,798 $3,798
38.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Eau Claire, WI: October 29, 2025

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