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 41.4% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 63.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 41.1% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 89.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.59 $20.59

$18.22 $18.22

13.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$65.7 $65.7

50.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.84 $9.84

20.93%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.06 $5.06

15.22%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$2.80 $2.80

7.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.41 $2.41

2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$5.85 $5.85

16.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.83 $6.83

19.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.02 $1.02

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.87 $1.87

116.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$1.73 $1.73

222.54%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$2.86 $2.86

59.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$9.21 $9.21

53.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.25 $15.25

$6.50 $6.50

134.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$12.71 $12.71

48.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.71 $3.71

42.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.21 $1.21

40.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.25 $3.25

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.47 $4.47

2.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.17 $1.17

108.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.17 $2.17

30.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.89 $1.89

32.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.59 $1.59

70.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.31 $8.31

80.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$13.19 $13.19

23.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.71 $1.71

39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$1.80 $1.80

97.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.95 $1.95

28.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.88 $4.88

-34.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.38 $1.38

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.48 $25.48

$29.69 $29.69

-14.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.81 $0.81

35.80%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$35.6K $35.6K

-11.26%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.72%

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

$186 $186

$203 $203

-8.60%

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

$61.5 $61.5

$48.42 $48.42

26.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$59.8 $59.8

11.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 $77.8

$43.12 $43.12

80.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.93 $12.93

Cinema Ticket

$14.86 $14.86

$14.23 $14.23

4.43%

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

$2,094 $2,094

$1,431 $1,431

46.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

31.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.2 $65.2

$39.72 $39.72

64.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$42.80 $42.80

18.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$58.1 $58.1

66.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$128 $128

11.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,309 $2,309

$853 $853

170.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$743 $743

114.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,723 $4,723

$1,991 $1,991

137.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$860 $860

226.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,787 $3,787

$1,531 $1,531

147.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 $2,494

$1,500 $1,500

66.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,384 $5,384

$3,467 $3,467

55.30%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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