Cost of Living Comparison Between Waukegan, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Waukegan, IL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Waukegan, IL is 18.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Waukegan, IL is 17.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.81 $18.81

$20.53 $20.53

-8.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.1 $74.1

$99.3 $99.3

-25.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.13 $11.13

$12.22 $12.22

-8.92%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$5.75 $5.75

-13.57%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$2.97 $2.97

-15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.37 $2.37

-13.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$7.03 $7.03

-15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.9 $6.9

$8.3 $8.3

-16.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.05 $1.05

-3.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.99 $3.99

-11.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.48 $5.48

-23.72%

Eggs

$4.24 $4.24

$4.71 $4.71

-9.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$14.09 $14.09

-11.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.6 $11.6

$15.15 $15.15

-23.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$19.09 $19.09

-19.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.23 $5.23

-9.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.33 $4.33

-4.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.4 $4.4

6.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.9 $2.9

$2.43 $2.43

19.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.84 $2.84

-1.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.38 $2.38

-13.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.57 $2.57

-18.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$15.21 $15.21

-35.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.75 $13.75

$15.26 $15.26

-9.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.45 $2.45

-24.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.4 $3.4

$3.62 $3.62

-6.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.43 $2.43

-19.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.6 $3.6

$3.19 $3.19

12.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.44 $1.44

10.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$24.54 $24.54

18.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.04 $1.04

-13.46%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$32K $32K

-7.81%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.4K $26.4K

-4.13%

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

$190 $190

$186 $186

1.74%

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

$52.9 $52.9

$62.7 $62.7

-15.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$66 $66

1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.68 $43.68

$75.1 $75.1

-41.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 $13.73

$14.95 $14.95

-8.16%

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

$1,291 $1,291

$2,046 $2,046

-36.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$38.7K $38.7K

-40.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$64.9 $64.9

-22.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 $39.48

$52 $52

-24.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 $87.2

$95.6 $95.6

-8.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$143 $143

-22.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 $1,615

$2,330 $2,330

-30.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 $1,327

$1,591 $1,591

-16.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 $2,599

$4,654 $4,654

-44.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,210 $2,210

$2,777 $2,777

-20.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,803 $2,803

$3,674 $3,674

-23.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,429 $2,429

$2,686 $2,686

-9.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

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 Waukegan, IL: November 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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