Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wallingford, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wallingford, CT

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 58% more expensive than Wallingford, CT without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 60.7% more expensive than Wallingford, CT without rent, and 31.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.03 $17.03
22.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65.1 $65.1
54.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.87 $11.87
0.84%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.02 $4.02
38.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.12 $2.12
46.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.7 $1.7
42.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.95 $5.95
15.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.13 $7.13
18.51%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.98 $0.98
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.36 $3.36
23.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.65 $5.65
-2.30%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.68 $3.68
26.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.96 $9.96
43.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.26 $10.26
45.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.19 $18.19
6.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.69 $3.69
40.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.39 $1.39
23.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.97 $3.97
11.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.14 $4.14
8.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.47 $2.47
10.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.88 $1.88
29.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.61 $1.61
67.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.06 $13.06
16.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.91 $11.91
37.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.2 $3.2
15.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.06 $3.06
9.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.11 $2.11
-32.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.71 $29.71
-14.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.9K $29.9K
8.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$182 $182
3.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.24 $44.24
43.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$56.7 $56.7
14.93%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.55 $43.55
76.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.55 $12.55
18.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,392 $1,392
48.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.4K $30.4K
28.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$37.18 $37.18
72.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$23.88 $23.88
119.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.4 $84.4
12.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$70.6 $70.6
104.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,582 $1,582
50.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,329 $1,329
19.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,626 $2,626
81.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,262 $2,262
24.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,379 $2,379
50.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,182 $2,182
14.14%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Wallingford, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,753 $4,753
10.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Wallingford, CT: October 28, 2025

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