Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Wheaton, IL: $2,571 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Wheaton, IL
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Wheaton, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Wheaton, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,571

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Wheaton, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Wheaton, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,571 in Wheaton, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Wheaton, IL $2,571

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,945 in Wheaton, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Wheaton, IL $3,945

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,320 in Wheaton, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Wheaton, IL $5,320

Chicago, IL costs about 22% more than Wheaton, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Wheaton, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Wheaton, IL by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$16.13 $16.13

28.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$69.3 $69.3

30.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.99 $11.99

7.92%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.56 $5.56

0.72%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.08 $3.08

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.33 $2.33

-2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$7.09 $7.09

-1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$8.19 $8.19

7.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.87 $0.87

45.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.83 $2.83

34.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.88 $2.88

84.03%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.67 $3.67

29.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$9.92 $9.92

40.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.07 $11.07

31.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$14.89 $14.89

26.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.67 $4.67

11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.59 $1.59

24.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.93 $2.93

34.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.14 $2.14

131.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.70 $1.70

62.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.14 $3.14

-12.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.89 $1.89

17.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.41 $2.41

23.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$8.98 $8.98

56.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$11.90 $11.90

28.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.26 $2.26

14.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.72 $2.72

28.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$5.03 $5.03

-50.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$101 $101

-25.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.09 $4.09

-18.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.80 $0.80

78.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$43.88 $43.88

-44.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.03 $1.03

22.33%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$23.1K $23.1K

51.69%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.28%

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

$193 $193

$174 $174

11.07%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$51.7 $51.7

32.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$68.9 $68.9

-11.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$34.62 $34.62

56.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.08 $12.08

46.85%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,698 $1,698

-2.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

32.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$57.7 $57.7

14.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.98 $34.98

46.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$87.2 $87.2

14.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$102 $102

38.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,011 $2,011

21.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,321 $1,321

27.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,753 $2,753

71.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,583 $2,583

8.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,537 $5,537

-12.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.69

1.79%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Wheaton, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Wheaton, IL

$1.3K 51.4% 21.3% $357

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Wheaton, IL

$337 13.1% 25% $113

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Wheaton, IL

$305 11.9% 11.1% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Wheaton, IL

$294 11.4% 8.7% $28

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Wheaton, IL

$127 4.9% 21.4% $35

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Wheaton, IL

$129 5% 35.4% $34

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Wheaton, IL

$59 2.3% 34.4% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $2,011 in Wheaton, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Wheaton, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $69.0 in Wheaton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $337 – making Wheaton, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Wheaton, IL

🕒 Local time

21:55 9:55 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

54,611

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Wheaton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,571 in Wheaton, IL – roughly 22% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,857 in Wheaton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wheaton, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in Wheaton, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,571 in Wheaton, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,571 in Wheaton, IL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Wheaton, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.