Cost of Living Comparison Between Brentwood, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Brentwood, CA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Brentwood, CA is 11.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Brentwood, CA is 18.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.58 $29.58
$20.82 $20.82
42.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 $111
$100 $100
10.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.19 $14.19
$11.97 $11.97
18.55%
Cappuccino
$6.14 $6.14
$5.56 $5.56
10.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 $3.61
$3.11 $3.11
16.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.3 $3.3
$2.42 $2.42
36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.98 $8.98
$6.86 $6.86
30.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.15 $9.15
$8.45 $8.45
8.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.04 $1.04
26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.82 $4.82
$4.15 $4.15
16.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$5.52 $5.52
-44.38%
Eggs
$5.43 $5.43
$4.65 $4.65
16.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 $11.15
$14.33 $14.33
-22.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.2 $11.2
$14.88 $14.88
-24.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.49 $12.49
$19.34 $19.34
-35.42%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.17 $5.17
-12.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.71 $1.71
27.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.41 $4.41
-2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$4.51 $4.51
7.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.53 $2.53
18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.74 $2.74
27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.43 $2.43
11.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.7 $2.7
1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.67 $8.67
$15.19 $15.19
-42.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.09 $14.09
$16.42 $16.42
-14.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.35 $2.35
-8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$3.7 $3.7
-38.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.34 $3.34
32.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.42 $1.42
32.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.67 $29.67
$25.42 $25.42
16.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$188 $188
14.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.71 $38.71
$63.7 $63.7
-39.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$65.2 $65.2
-5.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.24 $43.24
$76.7 $76.7
-43.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.8 $17.8
$14.93 $14.93
19.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,171 $1,171
$2,063 $2,063
-43.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.74 $44.74
$64.3 $64.3
-30.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.34 $39.34
$52.4 $52.4
-24.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 $76.4
$95.2 $95.2
-19.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3 $81.3
$145 $145
-43.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 $1,590
$2,378 $2,378
-33.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,366 $1,366
$1,584 $1,584
-13.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,807 $3,807
$4,763 $4,763
-20.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,178 $2,178
$2,815 $2,815
-22.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,532 $2,532
$3,588 $3,588
-29.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 $2,489
$2,490 $2,490
-0.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brentwood, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,093 $5,093
$5,275 $5,275
-3.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
6.6
1.06%

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

Last update for Brentwood, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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