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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Wheaton, IL is 25.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Wheaton, IL is 30.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.2 $15.2
$20.82 $20.82
-26.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 $75.2
$100 $100
-25.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 $11.03
$11.97 $11.97
-7.85%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$5.56 $5.56
-3.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$3.11 $3.11
-11.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.42 $2.42
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$6.86 $6.86
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.31 $7.31
$8.45 $8.45
-13.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.04 $1.04
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.15 $4.15
-12.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$5.52 $5.52
-40.58%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$4.65 $4.65
-7.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.31 $10.31
$14.33 $14.33
-28.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.94 $8.94
$14.88 $14.88
-39.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 $11.55
$19.34 $19.34
-40.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$5.17 $5.17
-15.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.71 $1.71
-9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$4.41 $4.41
-22.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.51 $4.51
-23.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.53 $2.53
-29.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.74 $2.74
-9.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.43 $2.43
-26.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.7 $2.7
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.04 $10.04
$15.19 $15.19
-33.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.26 $9.26
$16.42 $16.42
-43.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.35 $2.35
1.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.7 $3.7
-17.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.12 $5.12
$2.53 $2.53
102.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.8 $98.8
$74.1 $74.1
33.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.34 $3.34
34.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.42 $1.42
-42.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.92 $41.92
$25.42 $25.42
64.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.08 $1.08
-9.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K $22.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-29.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$188 $188
-8.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3 $50.3
$63.7 $63.7
-21.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$65.2 $65.2
-7.41%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.63 $43.63
$76.7 $76.7
-43.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82 $10.82
$14.93 $14.93
-27.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,653 $1,653
$2,063 $2,063
-19.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K $24.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-36.47%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.48 $45.48
$64.3 $64.3
-29.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.05 $49.05
$52.4 $52.4
-6.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.9 $66.9
$95.2 $95.2
-29.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85 $85
$145 $145
-41.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 $1,497
$2,378 $2,378
-37.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 $1,180
$1,584 $1,584
-25.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,992 $2,992
$4,763 $4,763
-37.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,534 $2,534
$2,815 $2,815
-9.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,106 $3,106
$3,588 $3,588
-13.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,151 $2,151
$2,490 $2,490
-13.63%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,576 $5,576
$5,275 $5,275
5.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.6
-1.21%

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

Last update for Wheaton, IL: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.