Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Eau Claire, WI: $2,278 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
109

Cost of Living Index in Eau Claire, WI
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Eau Claire, WI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Eau Claire, WI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,278

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,278 in Eau Claire, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Eau Claire, WI $2,278

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,288 in Eau Claire, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Eau Claire, WI $3,288

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,297 in Eau Claire, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Eau Claire, WI $4,297

Chicago, IL costs about 33% more than Eau Claire, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Eau Claire, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Eau Claire, WI by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$18.67 $18.67

10.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$66.5 $66.5

34.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.98 $9.98

32.16%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.23 $5.23

8.22%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.79 $2.79

-5.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.51 $1.51

50.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.98 $3.98

72.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.84 $5.84

51.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.81 $0.81

54.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.45 $3.45

7.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.16 $4.16

29.57%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.71 $3.71

27.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.94 $12.94

6.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.22 $13.22

8.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$14.53 $14.53

26.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.80 $4.80

8.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.21 $1.21

63.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.25 $3.25

24.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.77 $4.77

4.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.89 $2.89

-7.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.99 $2.99

-11.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.52 $1.52

47.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.37 $2.37

32.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.93 $10.93

26.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.18 $15.18

-1.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.10 $2.10

20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.52 $4.52

-22.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.71 $1.71

42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$50.5 $50.5

45.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.94 $3.94

-19.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.95 $1.95

-28.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$44.51 $44.51

-43.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.89 $0.89

34.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$26.7K $26.7K

31.35%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

4.41%

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

$194 $194

$210 $210

-7.35%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$47.84 $47.84

45.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$68.9 $68.9

-10.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$42.07 $42.07

13.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$19.94 $19.94

37.11%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$11.44 $11.44

55.68%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$999 $999

79.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

36.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$48.92 $48.92

37.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$29.95 $29.95

74.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$109 $109

-6.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$84.8 $84.8

69.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,145 $1,145

120.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,012 $1,012

55.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,578 $1,578

200.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,543 $1,543

74.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,253 $2,253

85.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,861 $1,861

48.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,958 $3,958

24.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.65

2.41%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Eau Claire, WI: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Eau Claire, WI

$1K 44.4% 35.9% $566

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Eau Claire, WI

$390 17.1% 12.9% $58

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Eau Claire, WI

$291 12.8% 15.7% $54

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Eau Claire, WI

$327 14.3% 0.3% $1.1

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Eau Claire, WI

$123 5.4% 25.2% $41

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Eau Claire, WI

$71 3.1% 23.9% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Eau Claire, WI

$65 2.9% 22.2% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,145 in Eau Claire, 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 25% 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 $67 in Eau Claire, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $390 – making Eau Claire, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Eau Claire, WI

🕒 Local time

12:25 12:25 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

68,802

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Eau Claire, WI 450 km

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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 Eau Claire, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,278 in Eau Claire, WI – Eau Claire, WI comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,417 in Eau Claire, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Eau Claire, WI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,145 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $67 in Eau Claire, WI. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Eau Claire, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Eau Claire, 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.