Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 21.3% more expensive than Madison.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.8% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 13.0% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 9.0% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 4.5% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 58.0% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 23.7% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 8.8% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Madison.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Madison, you would:
pay 31.8% more for restaurants
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.98
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 13.0% more for groceries
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.81
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.20
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.57
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.18
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.91
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.17
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.20
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.23
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.25
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 9.0% more for transportation
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.43
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,000.00
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$21.90
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 4.5% more for housing
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$71.03
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,665.38
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,380.83
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$150.22
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 58.0% more for childcare
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,717.56
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,601.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 23.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.50
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.56
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.95
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$63.00
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.75
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 8.8% more for clothing
|
Madison
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$62.50
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.00
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$99.00
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.50
|
$146.00
|
|
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