Cost of Living Comparison Between Decatur, IL and Appleton, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Decatur, IL and Appleton, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,665 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,149 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,517 per month in Decatur, IL vs $3,204 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,368 per month in Decatur, IL vs $4,259 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Decatur, IL is about 23% cheaper than Appleton, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Decatur, IL and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – Decatur, IL by 24%, Appleton, WI by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.46 $19.46

$17.75 $17.75

9.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.3 $66.3

$57.5 $57.5

15.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 $8.76

$9.84 $9.84

-10.98%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$4.91 $4.91

2.44%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$2.61 $2.61

-15.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.97 $1.97

-15.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.53 $4.53

11.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$5.05 $5.05

21.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.90 $0.90

-7.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.10 $4.10

-38.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$5.36 $5.36

-61.94%

Eggs

$3.56 $3.56

$4.63 $4.63

-23.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 $8.92

$14.23 $14.23

-37.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$15.24 $15.24

-50.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$11.29 $11.29

17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.38 $5.38

-17.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.29 $1.29

67.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.24 $4.24

3.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.35 $4.35

-23.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.52 $2.52

-63.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.73 $2.73

-58.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.52 $2.52

-42.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.37 $1.37

84.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.20 $7.20

$14.93 $14.93

-51.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$14.76 $14.76

1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.68 $1.68

8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.40 $3.40

-40.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.49 $2.49

-18.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.65 $34.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.19 $3.19

-4.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.42 $1.42

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.85 $28.85

$24.68 $24.68

16.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.86 $0.86

-5.81%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.3K $23.3K

26.83%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

1.92%

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

$85.5 $85.5

$155 $155

-44.77%

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

$61.0 $61.0

$45.18 $45.18

34.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$65.9 $65.9

-4.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$17.08 $17.08

342.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.80 $11.80

$13.91 $13.91

-15.17%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$2,097 $2,097

-38.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$38.8K $38.8K

-39.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$40.44 $40.44

41.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.79 $42.79

$25.14 $25.14

70.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 $76.3

$90.9 $90.9

-16.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$193 $193

$107 $107

80.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 $875

$1,514 $1,514

-42.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 $571

$990 $990

-42.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 $1,018

$1,810 $1,810

-43.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$825 $825

$1,636 $1,636

-49.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$956 $956

$2,239 $2,239

-57.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$940 $940

$2,279 $2,279

-58.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,486 $4,486

$4,043 $4,043

10.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.52

0.61%

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

Last update for Decatur, IL: May 31, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $875 in Decatur, IL versus $1,514 in Appleton, WI. 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 11% higher in Decatur, 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 $66.0 in Decatur, IL versus $57.0 in Appleton, WI. Groceries tell a different story – $314 in Decatur, IL vs $400 in Appleton, WI – so Decatur, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Decatur, IL vs Appleton, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Appleton, WI is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,498 per month in Decatur, IL and $3,224 in Appleton, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Decatur, IL and $57.0 in Appleton, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Appleton, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Decatur, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,665, than in Appleton, WI at $2,149. In Decatur, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Appleton, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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 Decatur, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Appleton, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.