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 13.1% more expensive than River Falls, WI without rent, and 22.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23.2% more expensive than River Falls, WI without rent, and 28% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$17.65 $17.65

13.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$81.0 $81.0

25.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.04 $12.04

-0.17%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.09 $5.09

10.41%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$3.08 $3.08

-2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.21 $2.21

6.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.15 $6.15

13.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.99 $6.99

20.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.96 $0.96

13.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.18 $2.18

88.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.36 $5.36

3.92%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.12 $4.12

9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$11.27 $11.27

27.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.02 $14.02

7.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$18.05 $18.05

5.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$6.16 $6.16

-15.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.80 $1.80

-1.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$7.56 $7.56

-42.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.47 $5.47

-17.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.15 $3.15

-19.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.82 $3.82

-29.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.46 $2.46

1.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.40 $2.40

9.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$11.82 $11.82

27.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$16.18 $16.18

-7.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.20 $2.20

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$5.01 $5.01

-26.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.98 $1.98

29.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.72 $4.72

-30.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.75 $1.75

-21.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$23.86 $23.86

4.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.91 $0.91

16.48%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

5.37%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.35%

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

$187 $187

$91.7 $91.7

103.38%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$51.6 $51.6

22.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$68.6 $68.6

-4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.28 $43.28

73.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$3.91 $3.91

286.96%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$1,586 $1,586

30.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

47.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$25.17 $25.17

154.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$44.40 $44.40

14.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$80.5 $80.5

20.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$80.4 $80.4

78.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,586 $1,586

47.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$1,376 $1,376

17.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$2,656 $2,656

79.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$2,196 $2,196

25.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$2,514 $2,514

49.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,153 $2,153

21.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for River Falls, WI: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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