Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Willimantic, CT

For one person, living is cheaper in Willimantic, CT: $2,613 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Willimantic, CT
Learn more

Willimantic, CT Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Willimantic, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,613

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Willimantic, CT

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 Willimantic, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,613 in Willimantic, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Willimantic, CT $2,613

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,961 in Willimantic, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Willimantic, CT $3,961

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,309 in Willimantic, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Willimantic, CT $5,309

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Willimantic, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Willimantic, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Willimantic, CT by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$27.55 $27.55

-24.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$119 $119

-25.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.86 $11.86

11.21%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.11 $5.11

10.76%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.94 $2.94

-10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.22 $2.22

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.87 $7.87

-12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.04 $9.04

-2.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.91 $0.91

37.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.31 $3.31

12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.24 $2.24

140.62%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.46 $2.46

92.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.56 $11.56

19.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.30 $14.30

0.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.00 $16.00

14.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.56 $6.56

-20.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.03 $2.03

-2.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.79 $3.79

7.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$7.43 $7.43

-33.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.18 $2.18

22.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.21 $3.21

-17.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.47 $1.47

52.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$0.96 $0.96

226.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$13.18 $13.18

4.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.24 $15.24

-2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.97 $2.97

-14.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.78 $1.78

97.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$56.8 $56.8

29.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.65 $2.65

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.71 $1.71

-18.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$27.79 $27.79

-9.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.08 $1.08

11.11%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

16.69%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.19%

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

$194 $194

$223 $223

-12.90%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$55.1 $55.1

26.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$22.76 $22.76

170.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$45.41 $45.41

5.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$8.79 $8.79

102.62%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$791 $791

126.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$36.2K $36.2K

-11.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$49.40 $49.40

35.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$79.4 $79.4

27.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$98.9 $98.9

45.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,038 $1,038

143.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,260 $1,260

25.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,414 $1,414

235.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,081 $2,081

29.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,918 $2,918

43.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,153 $2,153

28.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,014 $3,014

63.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.12

11.27%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Willimantic, CT: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Willimantic, CT

$1.3K 48.2% 20.2% $318

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Willimantic, CT

$392 15% 12.4% $56

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Willimantic, CT

$395 15.1% 14.6% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Willimantic, CT

$301 11.5% 7.5% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Willimantic, CT

$126 4.8% 23.2% $38

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Willimantic, CT

$76 2.9% 18.5% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Willimantic, CT

$63 2.4% 24.6% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,038 in Willimantic, CT. 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 64% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $119 in Willimantic, CT. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $392 in Willimantic, CT – so Willimantic, CT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Willimantic, CT

🕒 Local time

18:46 6:46 PM

19:46 7:46 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

17,737

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Willimantic, CT 1,280 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Willimantic, CT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Willimantic, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,613 in Willimantic, CT – Willimantic, CT comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,919 in Willimantic, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Willimantic, CT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,038 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $119 in Willimantic, CT. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,613 in Willimantic, CT. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Willimantic, CT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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