Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,864 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,009 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,134 per month in Madison, WI vs $4,593 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,405 per month in Madison, WI vs $6,177 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Madison, WI is about 5% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madison, WI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 114%, Chicago, IL by 125%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.24 $15.24

$20.35 $20.35

-25.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$102 $102

-25.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$11.98 $11.98

-8.85%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.70 $5.70

-8.07%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.00 $3.00

-13.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.46 $2.46

-4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$6.87 $6.87

-10.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$8.09 $8.09

-15.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.03 $1.03

-13.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.95 $3.95

-5.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$5.42 $5.42

-5.90%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$4.50 $4.50

-11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$14.53 $14.53

-5.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$14.89 $14.89

-10.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$18.98 $18.98

-12.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.39 $5.39

-17.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.77 $1.77

-14.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.35 $4.35

34.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.53 $4.53

2.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.53 $2.53

3.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.81 $2.81

2.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.51 $2.51

-19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.67 $2.67

-26.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$14.88 $14.88

-33.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$15.22 $15.22

3.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.46 $2.46

-7.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.53 $3.53

36.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.56 $2.56

-23.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 $63.1

$74.3 $74.3

-15.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.19 $3.19

41.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.41 $1.41

58.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.40 $42.40

$25.49 $25.49

66.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.04 $1.04

-18.27%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$32.2K $32.2K

-21.21%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.71%

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

$216 $216

$184 $184

17.37%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$63.1 $63.1

-20.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$66.4 $66.4

11.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$75.9 $75.9

-16.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.07 $30.07

$13.06 $13.06

130.25%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$15.25 $15.25

-2.75%

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

$1,656 $1,656

$2,090 $2,090

-20.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$39.2K $39.2K

-36.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$64.2 $64.2

5.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.64 $47.64

$51.0 $51.0

-6.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$97.2 $97.2

2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$149 $149

-9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 $1,701

$2,341 $2,341

-27.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 $1,438

$1,572 $1,572

-8.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,068 $3,068

$4,741 $4,741

-35.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,819 $2,819

-13.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,392 $4,392

$3,900 $3,900

12.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,563 $2,563

$2,638 $2,638

-2.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,331 $4,331

$4,769 $4,769

-9.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,701 in Madison, WI versus $2,341 in Chicago, 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 10% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Madison, WI versus $102 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $447 – making Madison, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,864 in Madison, WI, $3,009 in Chicago, IL – roughly 5% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,296 per month in Madison, WI and $4,513 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 7% 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 $76.0 in Madison, WI and $102 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,864 in Madison, WI and $3,009 in Chicago, 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 $2,864 in Madison, WI to $3,009 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 Madison, WI. 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.