Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Waukesha, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Waukesha, WI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 51% more expensive than Waukesha, WI without rent, and 22.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.2% more expensive than Waukesha, WI without rent, and 31.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.03 $16.03

29.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65.1 $65.1

54.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.04 $11.04

8.42%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.29 $5.29

5.10%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.92 $2.92

6.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.24 $2.24

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.13 $5.13

33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.04 $7.04

20.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 $0.87

19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.25 $3.25

27.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.87 $2.87

92.33%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.34 $4.34

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$8.64 $8.64

65.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.17 $11.17

33.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.14 $15.14

27.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.73 $5.73

-9.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.12 $1.12

52.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.48 $4.48

-1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.95 $2.95

52.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.53 $1.53

65.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.48 $2.48

10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.74 $1.74

39.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.41 $1.41

91.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.93 $8.93

70.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.9 $14.9

10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.99 $1.99

85.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.85 $2.85

17.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.44 $1.44

-1.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.74 $20.74

22.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.4K $30.4K

6.59%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.40%

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

$188 $188

$182 $182

3.16%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.44 $48.44

31.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.4 $63.4

2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.83 $43.83

75.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.04 $12.04

24.00%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,286 $1,286

60.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

63.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$42.63 $42.63

50.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.62 $44.62

17.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$77.4 $77.4

23.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$88 $88

64.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,592 $1,592

49.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,364 $1,364

16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,721 $1,721

176.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,218 $2,218

26.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,186 $2,186

64.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,151 $2,151

15.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,205 $4,205

25.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waukesha, WI: October 28, 2025

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