Cost of Living Comparison Between Bremerton, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bremerton, WA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,892 in Bremerton, WA versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,025 in Bremerton, WA versus $4,637 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,157 in Bremerton, WA versus $6,191 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bremerton, WA costs roughly 6% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bremerton, WA 117% above, Chicago, IL 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$20.81 $20.81

-3.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.4 $71.4

$98.6 $98.6

-27.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.98 $12.98

$11.90 $11.90

9.08%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.84 $5.84

-11.64%

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

$2.36 $2.36

$3.07 $3.07

-23.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.35 $2.35

-12.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$6.87 $6.87

3.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$8.07 $8.07

-4.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.05 $1.05

-1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.98 $3.98

-5.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.60 $5.60

-7.68%

Eggs

$5.31 $5.31

$4.55 $4.55

16.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$14.20 $14.20

1.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.91 $15.91

$14.90 $14.90

6.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.82 $16.82

$19.08 $19.08

-11.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.31 $5.31

3.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.71 $1.71

-30.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.24 $4.24

3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$4.37 $4.37

-37.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.56 $2.56

-21.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.80 $2.80

-6.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.47 $2.47

-43.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.70 $2.70

-32.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.95 $14.95

-31.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.73 $14.73

5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.37 $2.37

-3.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.57 $3.57

-12.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.44 $2.44

-20.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.46 $37.46

$75.2 $75.2

-50.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.35 $3.35

-27.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.37 $1.37

43.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.87 $14.87

$25.29 $25.29

-41.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.09 $1.09

7.34%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$32.3K $32.3K

-1.05%

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

$20.6K $20.6K

$26.4K $26.4K

-22.10%

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

$254 $254

$188 $188

34.93%

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

$36.94 $36.94

$63.3 $63.3

-41.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.5 $76.5

$66.2 $66.2

15.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.24 $45.24

$75.6 $75.6

-40.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.90 $4.90

$13.20 $13.20

-62.88%

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 $11.85

$14.80 $14.80

-19.93%

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

$2,217 $2,217

$2,097 $2,097

5.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.9K $28.9K

$38.5K $38.5K

-24.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.63 $33.63

$64.9 $64.9

-48.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 $53.4

$51.6 $51.6

3.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 $58.8

$96.3 $96.3

-38.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 $68.8

$146 $146

-52.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,833 $1,833

$2,332 $2,332

-21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,530 $1,530

$1,579 $1,579

-3.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,736 $2,736

$4,775 $4,775

-42.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,281 $2,281

$2,725 $2,725

-16.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,372 $3,372

$4,023 $4,023

-16.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,351 $3,351

$2,684 $2,684

24.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,028 $5,028

$4,981 $4,981

0.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.6

-6.52%

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

Last update for Bremerton, WA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,833 in Bremerton, WA and $2,332 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bremerton, WA pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Bremerton, WA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $445 per month, with Bremerton, WA 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

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

Bremerton, WA and Chicago, IL differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,892 vs $3,084 including rent). Bremerton, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Bremerton, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,833 in Bremerton, WA versus $2,332 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bremerton, WA – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bremerton, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Bremerton, WA 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 Bremerton, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.