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 $2,557 per month in Wheaton, IL vs $2,204 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $5,219 per month in Wheaton, IL vs $4,856 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 86%, Rockford, IL by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.24 $16.24

$15.64 $15.64

3.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.4 $69.4

$68.7 $68.7

0.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$10.04 $10.04

17.43%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.11 $5.11

13.89%

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

$2.91 $2.91

$2.95 $2.95

-1.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.11 $2.11

8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.82 $6.82

$4.38 $4.38

55.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.97 $7.97

$6.80 $6.80

17.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.82 $0.82

8.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.24 $3.24

-12.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$5.31 $5.31

-44.07%

Eggs

$3.94 $3.94

$2.90 $2.90

35.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 $9.91

$9.97 $9.97

-0.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$13.90 $13.90

-21.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.69 $16.69

-10.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$5.02 $5.02

-0.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.52 $1.52

4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$3.82 $3.82

-24.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$5.25 $5.25

-59.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.48 $2.48

-29.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.61 $2.61

18.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.13 $2.13

-9.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.93 $1.93

24.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 $8.97

$10.71 $10.71

-16.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.07 $12.07

$15.83 $15.83

-23.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.03 $2.03

16.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.87 $1.87

39.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.13 $5.13

$1.47 $1.47

248.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$54.8 $54.8

83.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.78 $2.78

47.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.56 $1.56

-51.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.93 $43.93

$20.98 $20.98

109.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.97 $0.97

1.03%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$35.4K $35.4K

-36.26%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

-2.63%

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

$175 $175

$193 $193

-9.30%

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

$52.5 $52.5

$46.06 $46.06

13.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$71.4 $71.4

-0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.19 $35.19

$41.45 $41.45

-15.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.91 $24.91

Cinema Ticket

$11.91 $11.91

$14.44 $14.44

-17.52%

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

$1,712 $1,712

$519 $519

229.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$4,066 $4,066

468.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$44.97 $44.97

25.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 $34.77

$35.26 $35.26

-1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 $90.0

$94.6 $94.6

-4.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$111 $111

-6.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,009 $2,009

$1,294 $1,294

55.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 $1,356

$917 $917

47.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,846 $2,846

$2,304 $2,304

23.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$2,064 $2,064

22.20%

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)

$5,516 $5,516

$3,309 $3,309

66.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

6.12

2.29%

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

Last update for Wheaton, IL: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rockford, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,009 in Wheaton, IL versus $1,294 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 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 Wheaton, IL versus $69.0 in Rockford, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $389 – making Wheaton, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 $3,836 per month in Wheaton, IL and $3,307 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 $1,712 per month in Wheaton, IL and $519 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 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.