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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,587 in Lake Geneva, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,718 in Lake Geneva, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,849 in Lake Geneva, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Lake Geneva, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Lake Geneva, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Lake Geneva, WI by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$20.18 $20.18

-1.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$79.9 $79.9

10.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$13.10 $13.10

0.99%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.58 $5.58

5.02%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.71 $2.71

-3.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.26 $2.26

2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.85 $6.85

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.78 $8.78

5.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.99 $0.99

35.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.55 $2.55

64.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.79 $5.79

-5.01%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$1.94 $1.94

142.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$14.20 $14.20

3.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$9.64 $9.64

50.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$9.47 $9.47

107.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.26 $4.26

32.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.99 $1.99

-1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.20 $4.20

-3.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.87 $4.87

4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.87 $2.87

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.57 $2.57

13.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.38 $2.38

-4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.86 $2.86

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$8.46 $8.46

91.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.24 $13.24

14.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.64 $2.64

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.41 $3.41

2.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.05 $2.05

23.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.29 $3.29

-3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.38 $1.38

-0.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$22.51 $22.51

0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.79 $0.79

51.90%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$36.4K $36.4K

1.76%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.87%

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

$190 $190

-0.43%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$68.7 $68.7

-0.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$50.3 $50.3

21.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$40.89 $40.89

55.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$10.03 $10.03

82.25%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,536 $1,536

-0.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$30.3K $30.3K

5.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$64.3 $64.3

-0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

-0.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$99.4 $99.4

1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$152 $152

1.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,493 $1,493

62.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,318 $1,318

28.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,478 $2,478

85.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,092 $2,092

33.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,793 $2,793

49.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,356 $2,356

16.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,830 $3,830

24.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Lake Geneva, WI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,493 in Lake Geneva, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $80.0 in Lake Geneva, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $364 – making Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $2,587 in Lake Geneva, WI – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,881 in Lake Geneva, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lake Geneva, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $80.0 in Lake Geneva, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,587 in Lake Geneva, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,587 in Lake Geneva, WI to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Lake Geneva, 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.