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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,413 per month in Wheaton, IL vs $2,085 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,825 per month in Wheaton, IL vs $2,937 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,237 per month in Wheaton, IL vs $3,790 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

Wheaton, IL costs about 16% more than Rockford, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Wheaton, IL and Rockford, IL sit above the global median – Wheaton, IL by 80%, Rockford, IL by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.76 $14.76

$15.12 $15.12

-2.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$64.9 $64.9

14.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$8.83 $8.83

23.67%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$5.02 $5.02

3.98%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.08 $2.08

29.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.40 $1.40

67.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.06 $4.06

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.37 $7.37

$6.10 $6.10

20.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.71 $0.71

15.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.18 $2.18

67.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$4.54 $4.54

-28.41%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$1.70 $1.70

147.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 $10.17

$8.11 $8.11

25.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.93 $8.93

$12.47 $12.47

-28.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 $11.19

$15.57 $15.57

-28.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.53 $5.53

-18.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.03 $1.03

44.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.55 $4.55

-22.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.90 $4.90

-27.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.19 $2.19

-22.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.20 $2.20

8.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.46 $1.46

20.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.69 $2.69

-26.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.58 $10.58

-6.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.76 $11.76

$15.80 $15.80

-25.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.68 $1.68

41.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.52 $3.52

-13.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.48 $1.48

236.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 $98.1

$55.2 $55.2

77.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.85 $2.85

60.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.56 $1.56

-48.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$21.17 $21.17

95.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.86 $0.86

13.95%

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

$22.8K $22.8K

$30.2K $30.2K

-24.45%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

0.72%

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

$171 $171

$186 $186

-7.99%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$42.26 $42.26

18.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$62.6 $62.6

-3.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.84 $42.84

$43.14 $43.14

-0.70%

Cinema Ticket

$10.83 $10.83

$14.70 $14.70

-26.33%

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

$1,654 $1,654

$497 $497

233.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$4,067 $4,067

494.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.28 $44.28

$42.22 $42.22

4.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 $48.22

$45.27 $45.27

6.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 $66.2

$80.8 $80.8

-18.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 $83.3

$95.3 $95.3

-12.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,465 $1,465

$1,528 $1,528

-4.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 $1,182

$951 $951

24.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,992 $2,992

$1,480 $1,480

102.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,611 $2,611

$1,272 $1,272

105.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,448 $1,448

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,435 $1,435

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,461 $5,461

$3,309 $3,309

65.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

5.77

13.00%

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

Last update for Wheaton, IL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Rockford, IL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,465 in Wheaton, IL versus $1,528 in Rockford, 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 65% 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 $75.0 in Wheaton, IL versus $65.0 in Rockford, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $328 in Wheaton, IL vs $360 in Rockford, 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

Wheaton, IL vs Rockford, 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 $3,620 per month in Wheaton, IL and $3,127 in Rockford, 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 $1,654 per month in Wheaton, IL and $497 in Rockford, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Wheaton, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,413 in Wheaton, IL and $2,085 in Rockford, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.