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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.7% more expensive than Janesville, WI without rent, and 44.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 17.6% more expensive than Janesville, WI without rent, and 57.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.63 $18.63
11.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.8 $60.8
64.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.79 $11.79
1.53%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.08 $3.08
80.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.25 $2.25
38.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.44 $2.44
-0.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$2.03 $2.03
237.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.03 $6.03
40.13%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.05 $1.05
-0.95%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.12 $2.12
95.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.33 $5.33
3.56%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.63 $4.63
0.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.65 $14.65
-2.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.88 $9.88
50.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.93 $10.93
76.94%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.34 $5.34
-3.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.79 $1.79
-4.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.4 $4.4
0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.41 $4.41
2.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.48 $2.48
2.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.84 $2.84
-3.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.51 $2.51
-3.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.57 $2.57
5.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.89 $9.89
53.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.33 $16.33
0.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.44 $2.44
-3.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.61 $3.61
2.49%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$59.6 $59.6
24.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.22 $3.22
3.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.44 $1.44
-1.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.5 $24.5
3.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.1 $1.1
-1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.8K $31.8K
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.96%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$187 $187
0.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$61.8 $61.8
3.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.8 $65.8
-0.91%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.19 $43.19
77.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.11 $13.11
13.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,068 $2,068
-0.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$38.3K $38.3K
2.18%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$61 $61
5.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$50.7 $50.7
3.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$94.5 $94.5
0.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$130 $130
11.29%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,604 $1,604
48.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$809 $809
95.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,236 $1,236
285.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,226 $1,226
129.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,744 $2,744
30.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,404 $2,404
3.58%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Janesville, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,720 $3,720
41.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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 Janesville, WI: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.