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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.7% more expensive than Milwaukee, WI without rent, and 23.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.5% more expensive than Milwaukee, WI without rent, and 33.1% 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

$65.8 $65.8

52.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.82 $9.82

21.89%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.18 $5.18

7.34%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.1 $3.1

0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.26 $2.26

7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.03 $5.03

36.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.07 $7.07

19.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.81 $0.81

28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.35 $3.35

23.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.58 $4.58

20.52%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.25 $4.25

9.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.96 $9.96

43.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.57 $12.57

18.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.4 $15.4

25.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.64 $5.64

-8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.17 $1.17

46.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.49 $4.49

-1.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.82 $4.82

-6.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.18 $2.18

16.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.1 $2.1

30.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.73 $2.73

-1.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.63 $10.63

42.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.82 $14.82

10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.82 $1.82

29.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.55 $3.55

4.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$73 $73

1.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.78 $2.78

20.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.56 $1.56

-8.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.07 $21.07

20.65%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

6.18%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.06%

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

$188 $188

$182 $182

3.52%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.4 $47.4

34.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.5 $62.5

4.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$53.4 $53.4

43.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$18.2 $18.2

-28.41%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.84 $14.84

0.61%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,853 $1,853

11.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$42.37 $42.37

51.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.46 $45.46

15.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.1 $80.1

18.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$103 $103

39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,604 $1,604

48.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,162 $1,162

36.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,844 $2,844

67.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,863 $1,863

51.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,899 $1,899

88.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,700 $1,700

46.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,704 $3,704

42.41%

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 Milwaukee, WI: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States