🙂A single person spends $1,970 per month in Recklinghausen vs $2,687 in Belleville, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,921 per month in Recklinghausen vs $3,497 in Belleville, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,872 per month in Recklinghausen vs $4,306 in Belleville, IL, rent included.
🙂Recklinghausen is about 27% cheaper than Belleville, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Recklinghausen and Belleville, IL sit above the global median – Recklinghausen by 47%, Belleville, IL by 101%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16€15.63
$19.33$19.33
-6.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.5€74.4
$66.4$66.4
30.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.18
$11.20$11.20
26.43%
Cappuccino
$3.50€3.01
$4.90$4.90
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.17
$2.25$2.25
12.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47€2.12
$1.86$1.86
32.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.04€4.34
$4.92$4.92
2.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.07
$5.84$5.84
-18.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$0.96$0.96
41.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.29€1.97
$2.78$2.78
-17.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.24€2.79
$2.52$2.52
28.57%
Eggs
$3.63€3.12
$2.84$2.84
27.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.99€12.90
$8.97$8.97
67.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.96€12.87
$11.72$11.72
27.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.41€19.28
$16.43$16.43
36.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28€2.82
$5.51$5.51
-40.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$1.51$1.51
23.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25€1.93
$5.62$5.62
-59.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70€4.04
$2.97$2.97
58.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$2.33$2.33
-28.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68€1.45
$2.52$2.52
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95€1.67
$1.97$1.97
-1.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$2.34$2.34
-51.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.21€7.92
$7.33$7.33
25.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.87€5.91
$13.63$13.63
-49.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.90
$1.89$1.89
-44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.44
$3.45$3.45
-51.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40€2.92
$2.05$2.05
65.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.8€54.0
$77.3$77.3
-18.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96€4.26
$3.48$3.48
42.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92€1.65
$1.53$1.53
25.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.13€34.52
$40.22$40.22
-0.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.70
$0.87$0.87
127.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K€27.4K
$31.8K$31.8K
0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K€31.8K
$25.7K$25.7K
43.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$359€309
$238$238
50.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.97€24.92
$53.5$53.5
-45.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.9€45.53
$69.0$69.0
-23.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.90€34.32
$43.75$43.75
-8.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.32€20.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.83€11.90
$12.79$12.79
8.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457€393
$1,182$1,182
-61.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,863€8,485
$24.2K$24.2K
-59.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.6€83.1
$52.2$52.2
84.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.24€40.64
$40.67$40.67
16.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.2
$91.5$91.5
12.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$72.1$72.1
106.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$629€541
$1,614$1,614
-61.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512€441
$1,373$1,373
-62.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$924€795
$1,880$1,880
-50.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$825€709
$1,580$1,580
-47.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,403$2,403
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,907$1,907
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Recklinghausen
Belleville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,920€2,512
$6,328$6,328
-53.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
6.49
-38.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Recklinghausen: May 30, 2026
Last update for Belleville, IL: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $629 in Recklinghausen versus $1,614 in Belleville, 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 117% higher in Belleville, 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 $87.0 in Recklinghausen versus $66.0 in Belleville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $359 – making Belleville, IL 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
Recklinghausen vs Belleville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Recklinghausen or Belleville, IL?
Belleville, IL costs about 36% more than Recklinghausen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Recklinghausen vs Belleville, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,955 per month in Recklinghausen and $4,031 in Belleville, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Recklinghausen or Belleville, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Recklinghausen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Recklinghausen and Belleville, IL?
Kindergarten costs $457 per month in Recklinghausen and $1,182 in Belleville, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Recklinghausen or Belleville, IL?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Belleville, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Recklinghausen or Belleville, IL?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Recklinghausen, where all-in costs run around $1,970, than in Belleville, IL at $2,687. In Recklinghausen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belleville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Recklinghausen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Recklinghausen compared to Belleville, IL?
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.
Should I move to Recklinghausen or Belleville, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Recklinghausen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belleville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Recklinghausen vs other spots: cost of living compared