Cost of Living Comparison Between River Falls, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between River Falls, WI and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: River Falls, WI is 9.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: River Falls, WI is 29.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.11 $18.11
$20.82 $20.82
-13.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79 $79
$100 $100
-21.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$11.97 $11.97
-0.58%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$5.56 $5.56
-7.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.1 $3.1
$3.11 $3.11
-0.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.42 $2.42
-7.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.32 $6.32
$6.86 $6.86
-7.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 $7.2
$8.45 $8.45
-14.79%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.04 $1.04
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 $2.15
$4.15 $4.15
-48.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.4 $5.4
$5.52 $5.52
-2.17%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$4.65 $4.65
-10.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.21 $11.21
$14.33 $14.33
-21.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$14.88 $14.88
-4.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.94 $17.94
$19.34 $19.34
-7.24%
Apples (1kg)
$6.28 $6.28
$5.17 $5.17
21.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.71 $1.71
2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.41 $7.41
$4.41 $4.41
68.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.51 $4.51
22.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.53 $2.53
20.95%
Onion (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.74 $2.74
37.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.43 $2.43
1.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.7 $2.7
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.09 $12.09
$15.19 $15.19
-20.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.89 $15.89
$16.42 $16.42
-3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.35 $2.35
-6.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 $5.09
$3.7 $3.7
37.57%
🚌 Getting Around
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.68 $4.68
$3.34 $3.34
40.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.42 $1.42
21.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.58 $23.58
$25.42 $25.42
-7.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.6 $93.6
$188 $188
-50.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51 $51
$63.7 $63.7
-19.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$65.2 $65.2
3.11%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.4 $42.4
$76.7 $76.7
-44.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.97 $3.97
$14.93 $14.93
-73.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,626 $1,626
$2,063 $2,063
-21.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.9K $26.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-31.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.84 $24.84
$64.3 $64.3
-61.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.32 $43.32
$52.4 $52.4
-17.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 $79.8
$95.2 $95.2
-16.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 $80.4
$145 $145
-44.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,602 $1,602
$2,378 $2,378
-32.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 $1,346
$1,584 $1,584
-15.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,596 $2,596
$4,763 $4,763
-45.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,182 $2,182
$2,815 $2,815
-22.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,062 $3,062
$3,588 $3,588
-14.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,352 $2,352
$2,490 $2,490
-5.54%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
River Falls, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
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 River Falls, WI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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