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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.7% more expensive than Madison, WI without rent, and 5.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.6% more expensive than Madison, WI without rent, and 15.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.94 $14.94

39.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75 $75

33.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.87 $10.87

10.12%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.3 $5.3

4.91%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.7 $2.7

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.28 $2.28

6.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.92 $5.92

15.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.86 $6.86

23.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.88 $0.88

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.79 $3.79

9.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.32 $5.32

3.76%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.07 $4.07

14.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.68 $13.68

4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.08 $13.08

13.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.17 $16.17

19.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.57 $4.57

13.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.54 $1.54

11.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.8 $5.8

-23.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.81 $4.81

-6.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.62 $2.62

-3.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.02 $3.02

-9.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.03 $2.03

33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.89 $9.89

53.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.19 $12.19

34.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.38 $2.38

-1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.71 $4.71

-21.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.96 $1.96

29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$62.4 $62.4

18.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.46 $4.46

-25.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.14 $2.14

-33.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.61 $42.61

-40.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.8K $24.8K

30.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.80%

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

$188 $188

$217 $217

-13.18%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.9 $50.9

25.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.7 $73.7

-11.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$63.6 $63.6

20.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$29.52 $29.52

-55.86%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.88 $14.88

0.34%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,655 $1,655

24.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.1K $24.1K

62.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.1 $67.1

-4.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$49.04 $49.04

6.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$101 $101

-5.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$133 $133

8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,687 $1,687

40.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,459 $1,459

8.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,027 $3,027

57.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,440 $2,440

15.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,925 $2,925

22.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,414 $2,414

3.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,398 $4,398

19.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Madison, WI: October 27, 2025

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