Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Stevens Point, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Stevens Point, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,935 in Stevens Point, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,086 in Stevens Point, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,237 in Stevens Point, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 58% more than Stevens Point, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Stevens Point, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Stevens Point, WI by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$16.09 $16.09

28.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.3 $66.3

51.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.87 $9.87

20.16%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.20 $5.20

6.54%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.64 $2.64

15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.85 $1.85

34.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.03 $4.03

71.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.11 $6.11

33.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.88 $0.88

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.93 $1.93

102.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.34 $5.34

1.50%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.07 $4.07

10.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$9.76 $9.76

48.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.04 $11.04

37.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$12.01 $12.01

60.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.24 $5.24

2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.83 $1.83

-7.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.47 $4.47

-3.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.56 $5.56

-18.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.98 $1.98

29.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.64 $3.64

-25.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.57 $2.57

-6.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.77 $1.77

48.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.85 $10.85

38.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$9.84 $9.84

49.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.22 $2.22

11.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.74 $1.74

112.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.26 $1.26

102.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.79 $4.79

-31.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.67 $1.67

-14.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$23.66 $23.66

4.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

24.26%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.46%

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

$183 $183

$162 $162

13.08%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$24.96 $24.96

147.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$69.7 $69.7

-6.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$68.1 $68.1

11.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$43.44 $43.44

-69.98%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$12.11 $12.11

21.80%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$799 $799

157.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$27.1K $27.1K

42.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$47.59 $47.59

34.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.32 $39.32

31.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$78.9 $78.9

23.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$101 $101

45.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$936 $936

150.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$788 $788

100.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$1,958 $1,958

140.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,692 $1,692

60.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$1,972 $1,972

101.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,989 $1,989

32.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$2,992 $2,992

57.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.46

2.17%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Stevens Point, WI: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $936 in Stevens Point, 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 58% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $66 in Stevens Point, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $348 – making Stevens Point, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Stevens Point, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $1,935 in Stevens Point, WI – roughly 58% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,903 in Stevens Point, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Stevens Point, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $66.0 in Stevens Point, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Stevens Point, WI, where all-in costs run around $1,935, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In Stevens Point, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,935 in Stevens Point, WI to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Stevens Point, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.