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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.2% cheaper than Waterbury, CT without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18% cheaper than Waterbury, CT without rent, and 10.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$30.55 $30.55
-31.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$92.1 $92.1
9.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.84 $8.84
35.41%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.78 $4.78
16.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.2 $3.2
-2.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.6 $2.6
-6.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.82 $7.82
-12.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.95 $9.95
-15.08%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.02 $5.02
-17.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$8.41 $8.41
-34.36%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$7.27 $7.27
-36.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.08 $17.08
-16.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.65 $16.65
-10.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.06 $20.06
-3.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.67 $7.67
-32.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.23 $2.23
-23.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.65 $5.65
-21.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.38 $6.38
-29.31%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.88 $3.88
-34.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.11 $4.11
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.05 $3.05
-20.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.56 $2.56
5.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.52 $10.52
44.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.27 $17.27
-4.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.99 $2.99
-21.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.29 $3.29
12.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.79 $1.79
41.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$63.1 $63.1
17.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.02 $5.02
-33.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.06 $2.06
-31.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.58 $42.58
-40.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.4K $35.4K
-8.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.9K $27.9K
-6.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$178 $178
5.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$59 $59
7.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.2 $62.2
4.86%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$52.9 $52.9
45.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$20.18 $20.18
-26.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,324 $1,324
55.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$57.1K $57.1K
-31.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$42.61 $42.61
50.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.16 $44.16
18.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$71.8 $71.8
32.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$138 $138
4.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,500 $1,500
58.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,073 $2,073
-23.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,644 $2,644
80.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,314 $3,314
-15.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,411 $2,411
48.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,660 $2,660
-6.40%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,578 $4,578
15.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.44
2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waterbury, CT: October 28, 2025

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