Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fond du Lac, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fond du Lac, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,529 in Fond du Lac, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,654 in Fond du Lac, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 28% more than Fond du Lac, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Fond du Lac, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Fond du Lac, WI by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$12.99 $12.99

58.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$68.8 $68.8

47.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$8.09 $8.09

48.70%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.11 $4.11

36.74%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.91 $2.91

5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.37 $2.37

2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.02 $4.02

73.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$5.56 $5.56

45.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.75 $2.75

43.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.26 $3.26

69.33%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.11 $3.11

46.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$16.39 $16.39

-11.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$11.44 $11.44

30.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$11.47 $11.47

64.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.51 $4.51

18.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.65 $1.65

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.03 $3.03

44.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.10 $6.10

-28.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.69 $4.69

-45.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.50 $2.50

11.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.97 $0.97

153.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.77 $1.77

50.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$10.79 $10.79

36.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$8.44 $8.44

79.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.69 $1.69

44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.29 $3.29

11.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.98 $1.98

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.48 $3.48

-5.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.36 $1.36

5.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$20.19 $20.19

23.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$24.7K $24.7K

26.63%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.46%

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

$187 $187

$102 $102

83.50%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$37.26 $37.26

67.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$50.7 $50.7

32.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.64 $43.64

72.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$11.14 $11.14

36.54%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,346 $1,346

51.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$23.4K $23.4K

68.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$44.74 $44.74

42.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$46.94 $46.94

7.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$67.9 $67.9

40.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$223 $223

-35.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,600 $1,600

47.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,367 $1,367

17.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,660 $2,660

77.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$2,211 $2,211

24.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$1,777 $1,777

114.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,815 $1,815

42.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,980 $2,980

59.00%

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 Fond du Lac, WI: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Fond du Lac, 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 59% 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 $69 in Fond du Lac, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $353 – making Fond du Lac, 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 Fond du Lac, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,066 in Chicago, IL, $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI – roughly 28% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,605 in Fond du Lac, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fond du Lac, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in Fond du Lac, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Fond du Lac, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,404, than in Chicago, IL at $3,066. In Fond du Lac, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI to $3,066 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Fond du Lac, 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.