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

🙂 Solo nomad: Merrill, WI is 9.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Merrill, WI is 10.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 $18.84
$20.82 $20.82
-9.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1 $75.1
$100 $100
-25.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 $11.11
$11.97 $11.97
-7.18%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$5.56 $5.56
-11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.11 $3.11
-20.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.42 $2.42
-18.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 $5.96
$6.86 $6.86
-13.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 $7.08
$8.45 $8.45
-16.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.04 $1.04
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.15 $4.15
-16.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$5.52 $5.52
-19.93%
Eggs
$4.25 $4.25
$4.65 $4.65
-8.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.05 $12.05
$14.33 $14.33
-15.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$14.88 $14.88
-21.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 $15.73
$19.34 $19.34
-18.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.17 $5.17
-2.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.71 $1.71
-7.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$4.41 $4.41
-4.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$4.51 $4.51
3.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.53 $2.53
9.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.74 $2.74
5.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.43 $2.43
-14.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.7 $2.7
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$15.19 $15.19
-35.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 $13.74
$16.42 $16.42
-16.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.7 $3.7
-10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.53 $2.53
-18.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 $109
$74.1 $74.1
46.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.34 $3.34
2.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.68 $29.68
$25.42 $25.42
16.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$188 $188
-0.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$63.7 $63.7
-16.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$65.2 $65.2
4.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.65 $42.65
$76.7 $76.7
-44.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.97 $8.97
$13.03 $13.03
-31.16%
Cinema Ticket
$13.63 $13.63
$14.93 $14.93
-8.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,291 $1,291
$2,063 $2,063
-37.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 $50.3
$64.3 $64.3
-21.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.51 $40.51
$52.4 $52.4
-22.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 $87.7
$95.2 $95.2
-7.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$2,378 $2,378
-31.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$1,584 $1,584
-12.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,679 $2,679
$4,763 $4,763
-43.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,254 $2,254
$2,815 $2,815
-19.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,765 $2,765
$3,588 $3,588
-22.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,397 $2,397
$2,490 $2,490
-3.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merrill, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,311 $7,311
$5,275 $5,275
38.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Merrill, WI: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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