Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Geneva, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Geneva, WI and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Lake Geneva, WI is 18.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.8% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Lake Geneva, WI is 6.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.1 $20.1
$20.82 $20.82
-3.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.13 $12.13
$11.97 $11.97
1.34%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$5.56 $5.56
3.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.11 $3.11
-3.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.42 $2.42
1.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.2 $7.2
$6.86 $6.86
4.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.27 $8.27
$8.45 $8.45
-2.13%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.5 $2.5
$4.15 $4.15
-39.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$5.52 $5.52
-1.99%
Eggs
$2.05 $2.05
$4.65 $4.65
-55.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.24 $14.24
$14.33 $14.33
-0.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 $9.56
$14.88 $14.88
-35.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$19.34 $19.34
-50.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.17 $5.17
-21.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.71 $1.71
4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$4.41 $4.41
-4.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.51 $4.51
-2.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.53 $2.53
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.74 $2.74
3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.43 $2.43
-1.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.7 $2.7
-1.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.38 $8.38
$15.19 $15.19
-44.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.04 $13.04
$16.42 $16.42
-20.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.35 $2.35
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.6 $3.6
$3.7 $3.7
-2.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 $3.22
$3.34 $3.34
-3.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.42 $1.42
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.06 $25.06
$25.42 $25.42
-1.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32K $32K
$32.4K $32.4K
-1.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$63.7 $63.7
-1.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 $50.4
$65.2 $65.2
-22.78%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.25 $39.25
$76.7 $76.7
-48.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.02 $10.02
$14.93 $14.93
-32.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,076 $2,076
$2,063 $2,063
0.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.6K $39.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
1.04%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65 $65
$64.3 $64.3
1.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$52.4 $52.4
-1.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 $97.4
$95.2 $95.2
2.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$145 $145
-0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$2,378 $2,378
-36.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$1,584 $1,584
-14.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,638 $1,638
$4,763 $4,763
-65.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,519 $1,519
$2,815 $2,815
-46.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,728 $2,728
$3,588 $3,588
-23.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,201 $2,201
$2,490 $2,490
-11.60%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Lake Geneva, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,868 $3,868
$5,275 $5,275
-26.68%
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 Lake Geneva, WI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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