Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Geneva, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Geneva, WI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.1% more expensive than Lake Geneva, WI without rent, and 16% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.3% more expensive than Lake Geneva, WI without rent, and 40.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.1 $20.1
3.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$101 $101
-0.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.13 $12.13
-1.32%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.78 $5.78
-3.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.01 $3.01
3.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.45 $2.45
-1.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.2 $7.2
-4.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.27 $8.27
2.18%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.99 $0.99
5.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.5 $2.5
66.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.41 $5.41
2.03%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.05 $2.05
126.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.24 $14.24
0.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.56 $9.56
55.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$9.54 $9.54
102.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.08 $4.08
26.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.79 $1.79
-4.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.21 $4.21
4.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.41 $4.41
2.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.53 $2.53
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.39 $2.39
1.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.66 $2.66
1.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.38 $8.38
81.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.04 $13.04
25.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.37 $2.37
-0.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.6 $3.6
2.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.22 $3.22
3.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.38 $1.38
2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.06 $25.06
1.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32K $32K
1.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
1.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$62.5 $62.5
1.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$50.4 $50.4
29.49%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.25 $39.25
95.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.02 $10.02
49.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,076 $2,076
-0.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$39.6K $39.6K
-1.03%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$65 $65
-1.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$51.4 $51.4
1.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$97.4 $97.4
-2.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$144 $144
0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,500 $1,500
58.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,349 $1,349
17.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,638 $1,638
190.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,519 $1,519
85.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,728 $2,728
31.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,201 $2,201
13.13%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lake Geneva, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,868 $3,868
36.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lake Geneva, WI: October 29, 2025

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