Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterloo, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterloo, IA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Waterloo, IA is 24.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Waterloo, IA is 22.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 48.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 $18.28

$20.82 $20.82

-12.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.4 $66.4

$100 $100

-33.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$11.97 $11.97

-17.38%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.56 $5.56

-5.76%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.11 $3.11

-10.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.42 $2.42

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$6.86 $6.86

-10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$8.45 $8.45

-19.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.04 $1.04

-2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 $1.94

$4.15 $4.15

-53.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$5.52 $5.52

-68.84%

Eggs

$2.86 $2.86

$4.65 $4.65

-38.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 $9.28

$14.33 $14.33

-35.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.7 $6.7

$14.88 $14.88

-54.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.74 $12.74

$19.34 $19.34

-34.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$5.17 $5.17

-25.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.2 $1.2

$1.71 $1.71

-29.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.41 $4.41

-24.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.51 $4.51

-1.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.53 $2.53

-55.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.74 $2.74

-22.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.43 $2.43

-23.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.7 $2.7

-43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 $7.92

$15.19 $15.19

-47.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.01 $12.01

$16.42 $16.42

-26.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.35 $2.35

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$3.7 $3.7

-51.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.53 $2.53

-22.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.34 $3.34

46.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.42 $1.42

0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.73 $29.73

$25.42 $25.42

16.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

8.79%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.07%

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

$197 $197

$188 $188

4.43%

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

$48.84 $48.84

$63.7 $63.7

-23.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 $59.4

$65.2 $65.2

-8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.83 $42.83

$76.7 $76.7

-44.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.8 $13.8

$14.93 $14.93

-7.57%

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

$1,454 $1,454

$2,063 $2,063

-29.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-22.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.76 $38.76

$64.3 $64.3

-39.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.15 $42.15

$52.4 $52.4

-19.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.6 $58.6

$95.2 $95.2

-38.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$145 $145

-10.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 $842

$2,378 $2,378

-64.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 $747

$1,584 $1,584

-52.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,974 $1,974

$4,763 $4,763

-58.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$863 $863

$2,815 $2,815

-69.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,457 $1,457

$3,588 $3,588

-59.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,429 $1,429

$2,490 $2,490

-42.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,529 $3,529

$5,275 $5,275

-33.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.6

-2.58%

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

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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