Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Watertown, SD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Watertown, SD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 48.9% more expensive than Watertown, SD without rent, and 25.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 55.5% more expensive than Watertown, SD without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.14 $15.14

37.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$56.7 $56.7

76.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.02 $10.02

19.46%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.28 $5.28

5.30%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.8 $2.8

11.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.04 $6.04

13.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.82 $6.82

23.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.21 $4.21

-1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.99 $3.99

38.35%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.3 $3.3

40.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.16 $9.16

56.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.45 $11.45

29.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$9.35 $9.35

106.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.98 $4.98

3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.19 $1.19

43.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.71 $5.71

-22.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.21 $5.21

-13.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.76 $3.76

-32.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.67 $3.67

-25.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.98 $1.98

36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.49 $8.49

78.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.85 $11.85

38.57%

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

$4.53 $4.53

-18.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.08 $5.08

-34.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.06 $29.06

-12.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35K $35K

-7.35%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.74%

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

$188 $188

$126 $126

49.63%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.42 $48.42

31.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$55.1 $55.1

18.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.19 $42.19

81.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.07 $14.07

6.11%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,454 $1,454

41.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$29.7K $29.7K

31.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$38.46 $38.46

67.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.83 $41.83

25.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74.5 $74.5

27.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$124 $124

17.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,592 $1,592

49.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,333 $1,333

18.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,662 $2,662

78.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,178 $2,178

29.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,780 $2,780

29.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,464 $2,464

1.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,265 $2,265

132.92%

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 Watertown, SD: October 27, 2025

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