Comparación del coste de vida entre Merrill, WI y Chicago, IL Comparación del coste de vida entre Merrill, WI y Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,668 per month in Merrill, WI vs $3,009 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,920 per month in Merrill, WI vs $4,593 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,172 per month in Merrill, WI vs $6,177 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Merrill, WI is about 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Merrill, WI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Merrill, WI by 99%, Chicago, IL by 125%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.01 $19.01

$20.35 $20.35

-6.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.5 $76.5

$102 $102

-24.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 $10.80

$11.98 $11.98

-9.85%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.70 $5.70

-11.40%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$3.00 $3.00

-13.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.46 $2.46

-19.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.87 $6.87

-11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$8.09 $8.09

-13.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.03 $1.03

-3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.95 $3.95

-12.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.42 $5.42

-18.82%

Eggs

$4.22 $4.22

$4.50 $4.50

-6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$14.53 $14.53

-17.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.66 $11.66

$14.89 $14.89

-21.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$18.98 $18.98

-20.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.39 $5.39

-11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.77 $1.77

-8.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.53 $4.53

2.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.53 $2.53

11.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.81 $2.81

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.51 $2.51

-16.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.67 $2.67

-17.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$14.88 $14.88

-36.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.22 $15.22

-2.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.46 $2.46

-27.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.56 $2.56

-23.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$108 $108

$74.3 $74.3

45.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.19 $3.19

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.41 $1.41

16.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.64 $29.64

$25.49 $25.49

16.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.04 $1.04

-19.23%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32.2K $32.2K

-8.62%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.8K $26.8K

-5.12%

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

$189 $189

$184 $184

2.89%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$63.1 $63.1

-15.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$66.4 $66.4

3.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$75.9 $75.9

-44.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.21 $9.21

$13.06 $13.06

-29.48%

Cinema Ticket

$13.69 $13.69

$15.25 $15.25

-10.23%

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

$1,289 $1,289

$2,090 $2,090

-38.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 $51.1

$64.2 $64.2

-20.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.51 $40.51

$51.0 $51.0

-20.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 $85.5

$97.2 $97.2

-11.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$149 $149

-24.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$2,341 $2,341

-31.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$1,572 $1,572

-12.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,644 $2,644

$4,741 $4,741

-44.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,219 $2,219

$2,819 $2,819

-21.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,680 $2,680

$3,900 $3,900

-31.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,397 $2,397

$2,638 $2,638

-9.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,322 $7,322

$4,769 $4,769

53.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.

Última actualización para Merrill, WI: April 25, 2026

Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,603 in Merrill, 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 54% higher in Merrill, WI, 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 $76.0 in Merrill, WI versus $102 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $447 – making Merrill, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)

El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.

Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales

Merrill, WI vs Chicago, IL: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes

Monthly costs with rent: $2,668 in Merrill, WI, $3,009 in Chicago, IL – roughly 13% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,002 per month in Merrill, 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 Merrill, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 Merrill, WI and $102 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,668 in Merrill, 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 $2,668 in Merrill, 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 Merrill, 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.