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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,313 in Bradley, IL versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Bradley, IL versus $4,637 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,237 in Bradley, IL versus $6,191 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bradley, IL costs roughly 25% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bradley, IL 73% above, Chicago, IL 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.20 $15.20

$20.81 $20.81

-26.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 $50.3

$98.6 $98.6

-48.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$11.90 $11.90

-7.14%

Cappuccino

$3.02 $3.02

$5.84 $5.84

-48.29%

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

$1.94 $1.94

$3.07 $3.07

-36.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.35 $2.35

-35.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 $3.95

$6.87 $6.87

-42.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$8.07 $8.07

-36.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.05 $1.05

-51.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.98 $3.98

-32.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$5.60 $5.60

-59.46%

Eggs

$2.67 $2.67

$4.55 $4.55

-41.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 $10.82

$14.20 $14.20

-23.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$14.90 $14.90

-58.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 $9.02

$19.08 $19.08

-52.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$5.31 $5.31

-38.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.71 $1.71

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.24 $4.24

-16.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.37 $4.37

-3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.56 $2.56

-16.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.80 $2.80

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.47 $2.47

4.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$2.70 $2.70

-62.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.25 $9.25

$14.95 $14.95

-38.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 $13.11

$14.73 $14.73

-11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.37 $2.37

-13.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.57 $3.57

5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.44 $2.44

-16.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.35 $3.35

3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.84 $28.84

$25.29 $25.29

14.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.09 $1.09

-14.68%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$32.3K $32.3K

-9.22%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

-13.42%

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

$221 $221

$188 $188

17.29%

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

$42.48 $42.48

$63.3 $63.3

-32.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.0 $61.0

$66.2 $66.2

-7.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.71 $42.71

$75.6 $75.6

-43.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 $9.89

$14.80 $14.80

-33.18%

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

$1,188 $1,188

$2,097 $2,097

-43.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$38.5K $38.5K

-38.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.74 $24.74

$64.9 $64.9

-61.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.83 $39.83

$51.6 $51.6

-22.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 $60.6

$96.3 $96.3

-37.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 $78.5

$146 $146

-46.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$2,332 $2,332

-30.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,326 $1,326

$1,579 $1,579

-15.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,594 $2,594

$4,775 $4,775

-45.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,233 $2,233

$2,725 $2,725

-18.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,407 $2,407

$4,023 $4,023

-40.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,519 $2,519

$2,684 $2,684

-6.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.6

-0.61%

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

Last update for Bradley, IL: July 21, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Bradley, IL and $2,332 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Bradley, IL vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $445 per month, with Bradley, 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

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

Bradley, IL and Chicago, IL differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,313 vs $3,084 including rent). Bradley, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,469 in Bradley, IL and $4,626 in Chicago, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Bradley, IL versus $2,332 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,188 in Bradley, IL versus $2,097 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bradley, IL – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,313 in Bradley, IL versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bradley, IL but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Bradley, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bradley, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.