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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 27.9% more expensive than Waunakee, WI without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.4% more expensive than Waunakee, WI without rent, and 24.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.45 $15.45
34.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.5 $74.5
34.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.2 $11.2
6.88%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.33 $5.33
4.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.73 $2.73
13.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.37 $2.37
2.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.14 $6.14
11.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.87 $6.87
23.00%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.86 $0.86
20.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.77 $3.77
10.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.15 $5.15
7.18%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.02 $4.02
15.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.71 $13.71
4.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.45 $13.45
10.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.66 $16.66
16.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.44 $4.44
16.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.52 $1.52
12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.28 $4.28
3.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.45 $4.45
1.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.47 $2.47
2.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.68 $2.68
2.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.05 $2.05
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.17 $10.17
49.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.77 $11.77
39.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.36 $2.36
-0.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.59 $3.59
3.06%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.26 $3.26
2.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.41 $1.41
0.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.24 $25.24
0.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.02 $1.02
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.9K $24.9K
30.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.41%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$183 $183
3.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$63.4 $63.4
0.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.3 $70.3
-7.24%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.47 $43.47
76.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.78 $14.78
1.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,645 $1,645
25.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25K $25K
56.50%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.6 $63.6
1.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$47.72 $47.72
9.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.2 $95.2
0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$135 $135
7.33%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,614 $1,614
47.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,358 $1,358
16.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,610 $2,610
82.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,196 $2,196
28.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,814 $2,814
27.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,278 $2,278
9.33%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Waunakee, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waunakee, WI: October 28, 2025

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