Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and River Falls, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and River Falls, WI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.9% more expensive than River Falls, WI without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 41.2% more expensive than River Falls, WI without rent, and 30.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.11 $18.11
14.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79 $79
27.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.9 $11.9
0.59%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.13 $5.13
8.38%
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
$2.23 $2.23
8.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.32 $6.32
8.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.2 $7.2
17.36%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.15 $2.15
93.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.4 $5.4
2.22%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.17 $4.17
11.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.21 $11.21
27.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.16 $14.16
5.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.94 $17.94
7.80%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.28 $6.28
-17.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.76 $1.76
-2.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$7.41 $7.41
-40.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.54 $5.54
-18.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.06 $3.06
-17.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.78 $3.78
-27.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.46 $2.46
-1.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.34 $2.34
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.09 $12.09
25.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.89 $15.89
3.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.19 $2.19
7.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$5.09 $5.09
-27.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.68 $4.68
-28.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.73 $1.73
-17.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$23.58 $23.58
7.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.9K $29.9K
8.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$93.6 $93.6
101.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51 $51
24.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.2 $67.2
-3.02%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.4 $42.4
80.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$3.97 $3.97
276.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,626 $1,626
26.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$26.9K $26.9K
45.80%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$24.84 $24.84
158.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.32 $43.32
20.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79.8 $79.8
19.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$80.4 $80.4
79.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,602 $1,602
48.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,346 $1,346
17.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,596 $2,596
83.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,182 $2,182
29.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,062 $3,062
17.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,352 $2,352
5.87%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
River Falls, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
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 River Falls, WI: October 29, 2025

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