Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Bourbonnais, IL: $1,808 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bourbonnais, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,808
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bourbonnais, IL and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bourbonnais, IL and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,808 per month in Bourbonnais, IL vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Bourbonnais, IL $1,808
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $2,850 per month in Bourbonnais, IL vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Bourbonnais, IL $2,850
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $3,893 per month in Bourbonnais, IL vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Bourbonnais, IL $3,893
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Bourbonnais, IL is about 42% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bourbonnais, IL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Bourbonnais, IL by 33%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.89 $14.89
$20.65 $20.65
-27.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.6 $62.6
$90.2 $90.2
-30.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 $8.22
$12.94 $12.94
-36.48%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.60 $5.60
-0.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.64 $2.64
-18.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.27 $2.27
-50.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$6.98 $6.98
-27.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 $5.14
$8.83 $8.83
-41.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.27 $1.27
-25.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 $2.39
$3.80 $3.80
-37.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$5.30 $5.30
-18.87%
Eggs
$1.93 $1.93
$4.76 $4.76
-59.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$13.96 $13.96
-68.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.39 $15.39
$14.61 $14.61
5.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.77 $8.77
$18.77 $18.77
-53.28%
Apples (1kg)
$6.51 $6.51
$5.19 $5.19
25.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.98 $1.98
9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.93 $3.93
11.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$4.96 $4.96
-52.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.76 $2.76
-35.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.76 $2.76
-36.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.22 $2.22
-40.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.98 $2.98
-34.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.97 $4.97
$14.02 $14.02
-64.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$15.28 $15.28
-35.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.58 $2.58
-46.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 $1.18
$3.50 $3.50
-66.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.47 $2.47
-18.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.5 $79.5
$74.8 $74.8
6.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 $5.43
$3.34 $3.34
62.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.43 $1.43
106.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.47 $17.47
$24.32 $24.32
-28.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.26 $1.26
-8.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$35.0K $35.0K
-22.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.1K $26.1K
1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 $224
$193 $193
16.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.04 $29.04
$68.3 $68.3
-57.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.81 $39.81
$61.3 $61.3
-35.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.61 $41.61
$54.1 $54.1
-23.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.63 $9.63
$17.74 $17.74
-45.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,534 $1,534
$1,652 $1,652
-7.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K $12.7K
$31.1K $31.1K
-59.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.58 $35.58
$66.1 $66.1
-46.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 $24.74
$51.2 $51.2
-51.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.9 $57.9
$100 $100
-42.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 $91.3
$141 $141
-35.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$824 $824
$2,446 $2,446
-66.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$677 $677
$1,678 $1,678
-59.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,754 $1,754
$4,717 $4,717
-62.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$2,795 $2,795
-47.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,408 $2,408
$4,105 $4,105
-41.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,146 $2,146
$2,650 $2,650
-19.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bourbonnais, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,300 $8,300
$4,866 $4,866
70.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
6.81
-8.22%

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

Last update for Bourbonnais, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bourbonnais, IL
$677
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 148% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Bourbonnais, IL
$316
Chicago, IL
$449 42.2% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourbonnais, IL
$292
Chicago, IL
$322 10.2% $30
Eating Out
Bourbonnais, IL
$259
Chicago, IL
$343 32.6% $84
Getting Around
Bourbonnais, IL
$108
Chicago, IL
$95 11.7% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Bourbonnais, IL
$94
Chicago, IL
$161 71% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Bourbonnais, IL
$61
Chicago, IL
$90 47.2% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $824 in Bourbonnais, IL versus $2,446 in Chicago, 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 71% higher in Bourbonnais, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Bourbonnais, IL versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $449 – making Bourbonnais, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bourbonnais, IL
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
21:34 9:34 PM
21:34 9:34 PM
Same time as Bourbonnais, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,164
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bourbonnais, IL Chicago, IL 82 km
From you
  • Bourbonnais, IL
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bourbonnais, IL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago, IL cheaper than Bourbonnais, IL?
Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 74%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,712 per month in Bourbonnais, IL and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bourbonnais, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Bourbonnais, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,534 per month in Bourbonnais, IL and $1,652 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Bourbonnais, IL or in Chicago, IL?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bourbonnais, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,808, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Bourbonnais, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bourbonnais, IL or Chicago, IL more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bourbonnais, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bourbonnais, IL or Chicago, IL?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bourbonnais, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Bourbonnais, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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