Cost of Living Comparison Between Brainerd, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Brainerd, MN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Brainerd, MN is 22.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Brainerd, MN is 36.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.16 $14.16

$20.82 $20.82

-31.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65 $65

$100 $100

-35.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$11.97 $11.97

-15.87%

Cappuccino

$1.91 $1.91

$5.56 $5.56

-65.65%

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

$2.3 $2.3

$3.11 $3.11

-26.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.42 $2.42

-20.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.86 $6.86

-11.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 $5.83

$8.45 $8.45

-31.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.04 $1.04

-0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$4.15 $4.15

-22.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.52 $5.52

-27.90%

Eggs

$2.43 $2.43

$4.65 $4.65

-47.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 $9.53

$14.33 $14.33

-33.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$14.88 $14.88

-44.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.57 $12.57

$19.34 $19.34

-35.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.17 $5.17

-3.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.71 $1.71

-31.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.41 $4.41

31.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.51 $4.51

10.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.53 $2.53

49.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.74 $2.74

32.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.43 $2.43

-16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.7 $2.7

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.62 $10.62

$15.19 $15.19

-30.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 $10.79

$16.42 $16.42

-34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.7 $3.7

25.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.79 $40.79

$74.1 $74.1

-44.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.34 $3.34

-11.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.99 $28.99

$25.42 $25.42

14.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.08 $1.08

-25.00%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

8.58%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.03%

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

$220 $220

$188 $188

16.84%

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

$45.27 $45.27

$63.7 $63.7

-28.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 $59.4

$65.2 $65.2

-8.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.72 $42.72

$76.7 $76.7

-44.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 $8.93

$14.93 $14.93

-40.19%

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

$1,181 $1,181

$2,063 $2,063

-42.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K $30.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-23.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.28 $39.28

$64.3 $64.3

-38.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.7 $41.7

$52.4 $52.4

-20.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 $59.2

$95.2 $95.2

-37.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.3 $66.3

$145 $145

-54.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$2,378 $2,378

-32.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 $1,222

$1,584 $1,584

-22.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 $2,660

$4,763 $4,763

-44.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,487 $1,487

$2,815 $2,815

-47.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,433 $2,433

$3,588 $3,588

-32.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,417 $2,417

$2,490 $2,490

-2.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.6

-2.58%

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

Last update for Brainerd, MN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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