Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Merrill, WI: $2,627 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Merrill, WI
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Merrill, WI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Merrill, WI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,627

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Merrill, WI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Merrill, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,627 in Merrill, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Merrill, WI $2,627

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,823 in Merrill, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Merrill, WI $3,823

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,019 in Merrill, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Merrill, WI $5,019

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Merrill, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Merrill, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Merrill, WI by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.24 $20.24

2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$74.3 $74.3

20.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.59 $11.59

13.81%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.18 $5.18

9.27%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.63 $2.63

0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.96 $1.96

16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.12 $6.12

12.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.31 $7.31

20.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.04 $1.04

20.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.49 $3.49

6.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.28 $4.28

25.93%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.12 $4.12

15.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.29 $12.29

12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.90 $11.90

21.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.86 $16.86

9.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.15 $5.15

1.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.63 $1.63

21.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.24 $4.24

-4.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.57 $4.57

8.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.73 $2.73

-2.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.08 $3.08

-13.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.13 $2.13

5.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.20 $2.20

42.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.09 $10.09

36.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.74 $14.74

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.27 $3.27

7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$60.7 $60.7

21.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.06 $3.06

3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.72 $1.72

-19.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$29.67 $29.67

-15.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

25.99%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.13%

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

$194 $194

$202 $202

-3.57%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.5 $58.5

18.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$70.7 $70.7

-12.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$39.91 $39.91

20.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$8.89 $8.89

207.54%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.05 $14.05

26.76%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,354 $1,354

32.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

36.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$52.5 $52.5

27.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$41.23 $41.23

26.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$89.8 $89.8

13.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$113 $113

27.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,560 $1,560

62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,296 $1,296

21.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,532 $2,532

87.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,091 $2,091

28.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,840 $2,840

47.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,326 $2,326

19.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$7,292 $7,292

-32.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Merrill, WI: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Merrill, WI

$1.3K 49.4% 17.9% $282

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Merrill, WI

$396 15.1% 11.4% $51

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Merrill, WI

$322 12.3% 6.5% $23

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Merrill, WI

$331 12.6% 1.6% $5.3

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Merrill, WI

$133 5.1% 18.7% $31

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Merrill, WI

$80 3.1% 14.1% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Merrill, WI

$68 2.6% 18.6% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,560 in Merrill, 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 48% higher in Merrill, WI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $74 in Merrill, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $396 – making Merrill, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Merrill, WI

🕒 Local time

04:30 4:30 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

9,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Merrill, WI 400 km

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Merrill, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,627 in Merrill, WI – Merrill, WI comes out roughly 13% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,941 in Merrill, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Merrill, WI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,560 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $74 in Merrill, WI. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,627 in Merrill, WI. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Merrill, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Merrill, WI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 13% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.