Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $5,098 in Waterbury, CT, rent and utilities included – about $24,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
247

Cost of Living Index in Waterbury, CT
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Waterbury, CT Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Waterbury, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$5,098

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Waterbury, CT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Waterbury, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,098 in Waterbury, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Waterbury, CT $5,098

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,890 in Waterbury, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Waterbury, CT $6,890

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $8,683 in Waterbury, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Waterbury, CT $8,683

Chicago, IL is about 40% cheaper than Waterbury, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Waterbury, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Waterbury, CT by 275%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$28.49 $28.49

-27.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$95.0 $95.0

-6.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.24 $9.24

42.75%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.04 $5.04

12.30%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.99 $3.99

-33.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.97 $2.97

-23.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.85 $7.85

-12.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.19 $9.19

-3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.38 $1.38

-9.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.12 $5.12

-27.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.63 $7.63

-29.36%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$6.13 $6.13

-22.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$19.16 $19.16

-27.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$17.69 $17.69

-18.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$19.08 $19.08

-3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.81 $6.81

-23.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.39 $2.39

-17.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.50 $6.50

-37.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.95 $6.95

-28.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.22 $4.22

-36.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.71 $4.71

-43.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.88 $2.88

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.67 $2.67

17.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$19.23 $19.23

-28.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.20 $15.20

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.32 $3.32

-23.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.10 $4.10

-14.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.76 $1.76

38.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$63.1 $63.1

16.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.91 $2.91

9.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.12 $2.12

-34.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$41.23 $41.23

-39.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.94 $0.94

27.66%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

0.06%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.45%

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

$194 $194

$217 $217

-10.55%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$74.5 $74.5

-6.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$69.9 $69.9

-11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$52.2 $52.2

-8.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$21.97 $21.97

-18.93%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,324 $1,324

35.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$60.7K $60.7K

-47.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$40.50 $40.50

65.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$45.89 $45.89

13.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$78.7 $78.7

29.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$142 $142

1.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,834 $1,834

37.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$3,464 $3,464

-54.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,563 $2,563

84.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$5,009 $5,009

-46.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,490 $3,490

41.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.73

1.19%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Waterbury, CT: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Waterbury, CT

$3.5K 67.9% 120% $1.9K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Waterbury, CT

$553 10.9% 23.6% $106

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Waterbury, CT

$402 7.9% 16.4% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Waterbury, CT

$362 7.1% 11.1% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Waterbury, CT

$138 2.7% 15.8% $26

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Waterbury, CT

$84 1.6% 10.4% $9.8

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Waterbury, CT

$96 1.9% 15.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,834 in Waterbury, CT. 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 41% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $95 in Waterbury, CT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $553 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Waterbury, CT

🕒 Local time

20:04 8:04 PM

21:04 9:04 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

110,366

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Waterbury, CT 1,210 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Waterbury, CT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Waterbury, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $5,098 in Waterbury, CT – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 40% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $7,647 in Waterbury, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Waterbury, CT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,834 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Waterbury, CT, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $95 in Waterbury, CT. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $5,098 in Waterbury, CT. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $5,098 in Waterbury, CT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.