Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Waterloo, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.2% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 62.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29.6% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 94.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.28 $18.28

13.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.4 $66.4

51.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.89 $9.89

21.03%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.24 $5.24

6.11%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.78 $2.78

11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.39 $2.39

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.13 $6.13

11.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.83 $6.83

23.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 $1.01

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.94 $1.94

113.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.72 $1.72

220.93%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.86 $2.86

62.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.28 $9.28

54.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.7 $6.7

122.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.74 $12.74

51.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.85 $3.85

34.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.2 $1.2

42.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.32 $3.32

32.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.46 $4.46

1.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.12 $1.12

125.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.12 $2.12

29.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.85 $1.85

31.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.53 $1.53

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.92 $7.92

91.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.01 $12.01

36.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.79 $1.79

106.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.89 $4.89

-31.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.43 $1.43

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.73 $29.73

-14.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.3K $35.3K

-8.08%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.08%

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

$188 $188

$197 $197

-4.24%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.84 $48.84

30.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.4 $59.4

9.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.83 $42.83

79.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.8 $13.8

8.19%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,454 $1,454

41.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30.5K $30.5K

28.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$38.76 $38.76

65.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.15 $42.15

24.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$58.6 $58.6

62.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$129 $129

12.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$842 $842

182.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$747 $747

112.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,974 $1,974

141.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$863 $863

226.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,457 $1,457

146.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,429 $1,429

74.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,529 $3,529

49.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

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