Cost of Living Comparison Between Eau Claire, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Eau Claire, WI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Eau Claire, WI is 15.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Eau Claire, WI is 28.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.74 $14.74

$20.82 $20.82

-29.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$100 $100

-25.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.97 $11.97

-17.13%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$5.56 $5.56

-9.53%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.11 $3.11

-12.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.42 $2.42

-36.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 $3.67

$6.86 $6.86

-46.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.7 $5.7

$8.45 $8.45

-32.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.04 $1.04

-24.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.4 $3.4

$4.15 $4.15

-18.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$5.52 $5.52

-3.62%

Eggs

$3.36 $3.36

$4.65 $4.65

-27.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.81 $13.81

$14.33 $14.33

-3.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$14.88 $14.88

-11.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 $14.12

$19.34 $19.34

-26.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.17 $5.17

-15.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.71 $1.71

-36.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$4.41 $4.41

34.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.51 $4.51

1.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.53 $2.53

5.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.74 $2.74

10.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.43 $2.43

-37.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.7 $2.7

-28.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$15.19 $15.19

-33.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 $12.17

$16.42 $16.42

-25.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.35 $2.35

-7.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.7 $3.7

27.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.53 $2.53

-13.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.6 $50.6

$74.1 $74.1

-31.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.34 $3.34

33.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.42 $1.42

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.28 $41.28

$25.42 $25.42

62.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.08 $1.08

-29.63%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-21.79%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.68%

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

$215 $215

$188 $188

14.21%

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

$48.45 $48.45

$63.7 $63.7

-23.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$65.2 $65.2

8.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.93 $44.93

$76.7 $76.7

-41.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$13.03 $13.03

51.50%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 $10.37

$14.93 $14.93

-30.54%

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

$1,001 $1,001

$2,063 $2,063

-51.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25K $25K

$39.2K $39.2K

-36.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 $46.35

$64.3 $64.3

-27.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.6 $29.6

$52.4 $52.4

-43.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

6.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.7 $89.7

$145 $145

-37.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,081 $1,081

$2,378 $2,378

-54.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$937 $937

$1,584 $1,584

-40.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,517 $1,517

$4,763 $4,763

-68.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 $1,260

$2,815 $2,815

-55.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 $1,973

$3,588 $3,588

-45.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,965 $1,965

$2,490 $2,490

-21.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,798 $3,798

$5,275 $5,275

-27.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Eau Claire, WI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Berlin

🇩🇪 Germany

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

Vienna

🇦🇹 Austria

Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

Perth

🇦🇺 Australia

Auckland

🇳🇿 New Zealand