😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,865 in Naperville, IL versus $2,713 in Arnhem.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,073 in Naperville, IL versus $3,945 in Arnhem.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,280 in Naperville, IL versus $5,177 in Arnhem.
🌍Living in Naperville, IL is roughly 6% more expensive than in Arnhem, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Naperville, IL109% above, Arnhem97% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.09$14.09
$23.54€20.25
-40.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9$75.9
$91.0€78.3
-16.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.15$12.15
$13.81€11.89
-12.02%
Cappuccino
$5.19$5.19
$4.48€3.86
15.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94$2.94
$3.42€2.95
-14.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$2.70€2.32
-11.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$5.72€4.92
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68$8.68
$5.98€5.15
45.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.25€1.07
-34.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.88$2.88
$2.05€1.76
40.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$3.45€2.97
-17.10%
Eggs
$3.52$3.52
$5.36€4.61
-34.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.94$7.94
$13.37€11.50
-40.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.20$11.20
$14.85€12.78
-24.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.40$10.40
$16.54€14.23
-37.12%
Apples(1kg)
$5.51$5.51
$2.82€2.43
95.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$2.50€2.15
-34.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$1.87€1.61
82.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.54$5.54
$5.51€4.74
0.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78$1.78
$2.00€1.72
-11.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.33$3.33
$2.56€2.20
30.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67$1.67
$1.28€1.11
30.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.04$3.04
$0.78€0.67
289.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.91$11.91
$14.73€12.67
-19.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.26$8.26
$7.52€6.47
9.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.50€1.29
14.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60$4.60
$2.80€2.41
64.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$4.62€3.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$128$128
$115€99.4
10.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58$4.58
$4.16€3.58
10.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.84$2.84
$2.37€2.04
19.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.61$17.61
$33.82€29.10
-47.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$2.35€2.02
-56.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K$24.2K
$43.3K€37.3K
-44.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$40.8K€35.1K
-37.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172$172
$289€249
-40.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5$52.5
$23.38€20.12
124.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7$51.7
$45.35€39.02
13.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.7$69.7
$43.15€37.13
61.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.04$15.04
$11.72€10.09
28.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.99$11.99
$15.03€12.93
-20.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,508$1,508
$1,288€1,109
17.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K$12.6K
$6,275€5,400
100.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3$57.3
$99.2€85.4
-42.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26$33.26
$30.25€26.03
9.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.8$89.8
$112€96.0
-19.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100$100
$162€139
-38.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,987$1,987
$1,509€1,298
31.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,635$1,635
$1,205€1,037
35.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,275$3,275
$2,285€1,966
43.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,480$2,480
$1,877€1,615
32.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,248$2,248
$5,379€4,628
-58.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,205$2,205
$4,357€3,749
-49.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naperville, IL
Arnhem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,715$6,715
$3,764€3,239
78.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.16
3.95
55.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Naperville, IL: August 31, 2026
Last update for Arnhem: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,987 in Naperville, IL and $1,509 in Arnhem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Naperville, IL pays 78% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Naperville, IL vs $91.0 in Arnhem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $350 per month, with Naperville, IL cheaper across the board.
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
Naperville, IL vs Arnhem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Naperville, IL and in Arnhem?
Naperville, IL and Arnhem differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,865 vs $2,713 including rent). Arnhem is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Naperville, IL or Arnhem?
Average pay runs 78% higher in Naperville, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Naperville, IL and in Arnhem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,987 in Naperville, IL versus $1,509 in Arnhem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Naperville, IL pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Arnhem – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $76.0 in Naperville, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Arnhem is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Naperville, IL and Arnhem?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Naperville, IL or Arnhem safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Naperville, IL and Arnhem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Naperville, IL or Arnhem?
Expats usually find Arnhem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Naperville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Naperville, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared