Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Waukegan, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Waukegan, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.3% more expensive than Waukegan, IL without rent, and 15.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.4% more expensive than Waukegan, IL without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$18.81 $18.81

9.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$74.1 $74.1

34.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$11.13 $11.13

9.79%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$4.97 $4.97

15.69%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.52 $2.52

17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.06 $2.06

15.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.91 $5.91

18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.3 $8.3

$6.9 $6.9

20.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.01 $1.01

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.55 $3.55

12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.18 $4.18

31.10%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.24 $4.24

11.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$12.45 $12.45

13.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$11.6 $11.6

30.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.09 $19.09

$15.37 $15.37

24.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.74 $4.74

10.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.14 $4.14

4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.4 $4.4

$4.67 $4.67

-5.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.9 $2.9

-16.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.8 $2.8

1.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.07 $2.07

14.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.1 $2.1

22.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.83 $9.83

54.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$13.75 $13.75

10.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.84 $1.84

33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.4 $3.4

6.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.6 $3.6

-11.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.59 $1.59

-9.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.54 $24.54

$29.08 $29.08

-15.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.9 $0.9

15.56%

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

$32K $32K

$29.5K $29.5K

8.48%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.31%

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

$186 $186

$190 $190

-1.71%

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

$62.7 $62.7

$52.9 $52.9

18.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66 $66

$66.9 $66.9

-1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$43.68 $43.68

71.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$13.73 $13.73

8.89%

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

$2,046 $2,046

$1,291 $1,291

58.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

67.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.3 $50.3

28.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52 $52

$39.48 $39.48

31.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$87.2 $87.2

9.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$110 $110

29.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,330 $2,330

$1,615 $1,615

44.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$1,327 $1,327

19.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,654 $4,654

$2,599 $2,599

79.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,777 $2,777

$2,210 $2,210

25.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,674 $3,674

$2,803 $2,803

31.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,686 $2,686

$2,429 $2,429

10.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Last update for Waukegan, IL: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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