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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10% more expensive than Merrill, WI without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.1% more expensive than Merrill, WI without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.84 $18.84

10.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.1 $75.1

33.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.11 $11.11

7.74%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.94 $4.94

12.55%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.47 $2.47

25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.97 $1.97

22.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.96 $5.96

15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.08 $7.08

19.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.46 $3.46

19.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.42 $4.42

24.89%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.25 $4.25

9.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.05 $12.05

18.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.69 $11.69

27.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.73 $15.73

22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.04 $5.04

2.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.23 $4.23

4.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.69 $4.69

-3.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.78 $2.78

-8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.89 $2.89

-5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.08 $2.08

16.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.13 $2.13

26.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.83 $9.83

54.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.74 $13.74

19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.84 $1.84

27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.31 $3.31

11.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$109 $109

-31.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.42 $3.42

-2.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.66 $1.66

-14.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.68 $29.68

-14.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.04%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.28%

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

$188 $188

$187 $187

0.53%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.1 $53.1

19.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.1 $68.1

-4.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.65 $42.65

79.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$8.97 $8.97

45.26%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.63 $13.63

9.54%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,291 $1,291

59.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

66.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.3 $50.3

27.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.51 $40.51

29.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.7 $87.7

8.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

28.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,622 $1,622

46.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,379 $1,379

14.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,679 $2,679

77.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,254 $2,254

24.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,765 $2,765

29.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,397 $2,397

3.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,311 $7,311

-27.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Merrill, WI: October 27, 2025

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