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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,864 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,134 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,405 in Madison, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 5% more than Madison, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Madison, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Madison, WI by 114%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$15.24 $15.24

33.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$76.3 $76.3

33.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$10.92 $10.92

9.71%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.24 $5.24

8.78%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.61 $2.61

14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.34 $2.34

5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.18 $6.18

11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.82 $6.82

18.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.89 $0.89

15.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.72 $3.72

6.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.10 $5.10

6.27%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.98 $3.98

13.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$13.79 $13.79

5.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.39 $13.39

11.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$16.57 $16.57

14.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.46 $4.46

20.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.52 $1.52

16.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.86 $5.86

-25.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.66 $4.66

-2.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.61 $2.61

-3.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.87 $2.87

-2.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.03 $2.03

23.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.95 $1.95

36.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.96 $9.96

49.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$15.75 $15.75

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.28 $2.28

7.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.83 $4.83

-26.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.96 $1.96

30.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$63.1 $63.1

17.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.52 $4.52

-29.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.23 $2.23

-36.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$42.40 $42.40

-39.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.85 $0.85

22.35%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

26.91%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.86%

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

$184 $184

$216 $216

-14.80%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$50.2 $50.2

25.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$74.4 $74.4

-10.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$63.6 $63.6

19.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

$30.07 $30.07

-56.57%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.83 $14.83

2.83%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,656 $1,656

26.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

56.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$67.7 $67.7

-5.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$47.64 $47.64

7.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$99.4 $99.4

-2.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$134 $134

10.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,701 $1,701

37.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,438 $1,438

9.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$3,068 $3,068

54.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,446 $2,446

15.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$4,392 $4,392

-11.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,563 $2,563

2.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$4,331 $4,331

10.11%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Madison, WI: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,701 in Madison, 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 10% 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 $76.0 in Madison, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $416 – making Madison, 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 Madison, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,864 in Madison, WI – roughly 5% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,296 in Madison, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 7% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Madison, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,864 in Madison, 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 $2,864 in Madison, WI to $3,009 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 Madison, 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.