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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 71.1% more expensive than Wausau, WI without rent, and 77.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 67.9% more expensive than Wausau, WI without rent, and 72.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.72 $18.72

11.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.1 $66.1

51.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.45 $8.45

41.66%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.89 $4.89

13.70%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.02 $3.02

2.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.06 $2.06

17.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.08 $5.08

35.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.35 $5.35

57.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.86 $0.86

20.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.86 $2.86

45.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.6 $4.6

20.00%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.35 $4.35

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.07 $9.07

57.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.74 $6.74

120.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.04 $14.04

37.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.31 $4.31

19.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.11 $1.11

54.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.02 $4.02

9.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.14 $4.14

8.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.79 $1.79

41.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.1 $2.1

30.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.92 $1.92

26.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.02 $1.02

164.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.22 $8.22

84.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.1 $9.1

80.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.9 $1.9

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.31 $2.31

60.17%

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

$2.82 $2.82

18.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.55 $1.55

-8.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.59 $20.59

23.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.81%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.29%

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

$188 $188

$167 $167

12.78%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.03 $48.03

32.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.3 $64.3

1.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$30.56 $30.56

151.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$5.98 $5.98

149.67%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,829 $1,829

12.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

59.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$24.65 $24.65

160.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.98 $44.98

16.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$64.1 $64.1

48.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$83.4 $83.4

73.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$909 $909

161.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$691 $691

129.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,548 $1,548

207.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,371 $1,371

105.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,642 $1,642

118.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,659 $1,659

50.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,403 $3,403

55.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Wausau, WI: October 28, 2025

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