Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockford, IL and Wheaton, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockford, IL and Wheaton, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,204 per month in Rockford, IL vs $2,557 in Wheaton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,530 per month in Rockford, IL vs $3,888 in Wheaton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,856 per month in Rockford, IL vs $5,219 in Wheaton, IL, rent included.

Rockford, IL is about 14% cheaper than Wheaton, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rockford, IL and Wheaton, IL sit above the global median – Rockford, IL by 60%, Wheaton, IL by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.64 $15.64

$16.24 $16.24

-3.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 $68.7

$69.4 $69.4

-0.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.04 $10.04

$11.79 $11.79

-14.84%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.82 $5.82

-12.20%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.91 $2.91

1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.28 $2.28

-7.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 $4.38

$6.82 $6.82

-35.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$7.97 $7.97

-14.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.89 $0.89

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.82 $2.82

14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.97 $2.97

78.79%

Eggs

$2.90 $2.90

$3.94 $3.94

-26.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 $9.97

$9.91 $9.91

0.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.95 $10.95

26.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$14.99 $14.99

11.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.01 $5.01

0.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.59 $1.59

-4.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.90 $2.90

31.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.13 $2.13

146.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.76 $1.76

40.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.09 $3.09

-15.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.92 $1.92

10.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.41 $2.41

-19.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.71 $10.71

$8.97 $8.97

19.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 $15.83

$12.07 $12.07

31.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.37 $2.37

-14.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.61 $2.61

-28.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$5.13 $5.13

-71.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.8 $54.8

$100 $100

-45.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$4.10 $4.10

-32.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.75 $0.75

108.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.98 $20.98

$43.93 $43.93

-52.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.98 $0.98

-1.02%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$22.6K $22.6K

56.88%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

2.70%

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

$193 $193

$175 $175

10.25%

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

$46.06 $46.06

$52.5 $52.5

-12.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 $71.4

$71.3 $71.3

0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.45 $41.45

$35.19 $35.19

17.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.91 $24.91

Cinema Ticket

$14.44 $14.44

$11.91 $11.91

21.24%

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

$519 $519

$1,712 $1,712

-69.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,066 $4,066

$23.1K $23.1K

-82.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.97 $44.97

$56.5 $56.5

-20.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 $35.26

$34.77 $34.77

1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 $94.6

$90.0 $90.0

5.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$104 $104

6.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 $1,294

$2,009 $2,009

-35.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$917 $917

$1,356 $1,356

-32.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,304 $2,304

$2,846 $2,846

-19.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,064 $2,064

$2,523 $2,523

-18.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,460 $1,460

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,436 $1,436

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,309 $3,309

$5,516 $5,516

-40.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

6.26

-2.24%

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

Last update for Rockford, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Wheaton, IL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Rockford, IL versus $2,009 in Wheaton, 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 67% higher in Wheaton, 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 $69.0 in Rockford, IL versus $69.0 in Wheaton, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $389 in Rockford, IL vs $340 in Wheaton, IL – so Wheaton, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Rockford, IL vs Wheaton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Wheaton, IL is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,307 per month in Rockford, IL and $3,836 in Wheaton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $519 per month in Rockford, IL and $1,712 in Wheaton, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Wheaton, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockford, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,204, than in Wheaton, IL at $2,557. In Rockford, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wheaton, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockford, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Rockford, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wheaton, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.