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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,757 in Berwyn, IL versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,026 in Berwyn, IL versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,294 in Berwyn, IL versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Berwyn, IL costs roughly 10% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Berwyn, IL 106% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$20.67 $20.67

-1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$100 $100

-21.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.86 $11.86

-14.59%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.54 $5.54

4.51%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.06 $3.06

0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.48 $2.48

-9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$6.92 $6.92

-28.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$8.13 $8.13

1.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.91 $3.91

2.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$5.42 $5.42

-0.37%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$4.48 $4.48

-7.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.52 $14.52

-0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$15.21 $15.21

-14.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.36 $19.36

$19.25 $19.25

0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.39 $5.39

3.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.69 $1.69

0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.32 $4.32

3.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.51 $4.51

4.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.56 $2.56

0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.70 $2.70

3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.41 $2.41

0.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.77 $14.77

$15.02 $15.02

-1.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.66 $15.66

$14.71 $14.71

6.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.48 $2.48

-26.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.69 $3.69

1.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.55 $2.55

-19.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$75.5 $75.5

-2.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.29 $3.29

-13.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.04 $21.04

$24.72 $24.72

-14.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.09 $1.09

-21.10%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$31.8K $31.8K

-0.94%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.03%

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

$188 $188

$183 $183

2.33%

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

$47.75 $47.75

$61.8 $61.8

-22.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$65.0 $65.0

2.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.45 $43.45

$76.1 $76.1

-42.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 $15.22

$14.75 $14.75

3.19%

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

$1,855 $1,855

$2,056 $2,056

-9.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$38.5K $38.5K

-36.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 $55.5

$63.9 $63.9

-13.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.84 $45.84

$51.6 $51.6

-11.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$97.3 $97.3

-1.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$147 $147

-13.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$2,349 $2,349

-33.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,581 $1,581

-14.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,655 $2,655

$4,708 $4,708

-43.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,231 $2,231

$2,716 $2,716

-17.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,298 $2,298

$3,976 $3,976

-42.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,658 $2,658

$2,632 $2,632

1.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,996 $3,996

$4,723 $4,723

-15.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Berwyn, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Berwyn, IL and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79 in Berwyn, IL vs $100 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 vs $447 per month, with Berwyn, IL cheaper across the board.

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

Berwyn, IL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Berwyn, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Berwyn, IL versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,855 in Berwyn, IL versus $2,056 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Berwyn, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Berwyn, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Berwyn, IL and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Berwyn, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.