Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookhaven, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookhaven, NY and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,658 in Brookhaven, NY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,960 in Brookhaven, NY versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,261 in Brookhaven, NY versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Brookhaven, NY costs roughly 14% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brookhaven, NY 98% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.80 $19.80

$20.91 $20.91

-5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$98.1 $98.1

2.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.17 $14.17

$11.86 $11.86

19.48%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.60 $5.60

-1.25%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$3.07 $3.07

-20.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.47 $2.47

-21.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.01 $7.01

$7.14 $7.14

-1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.75 $8.75

$8.08 $8.08

8.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.05 $1.05

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.11 $4.11

-8.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.61 $5.61

-8.38%

Eggs

$4.69 $4.69

$4.51 $4.51

3.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.58 $21.58

$14.27 $14.27

51.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$14.89 $14.89

-21.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.05 $17.05

$19.19 $19.19

-11.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.14 $5.14

-6.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.39 $4.39

-10.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.56 $4.56

-10.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.54 $2.54

13.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.75 $2.75

39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.42 $2.42

-2.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.62 $2.62

-0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.76 $11.76

$14.92 $14.92

-21.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.80 $14.80

0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.46 $2.46

-27.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.07 $6.07

$3.73 $3.73

62.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.48 $2.48

-20.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.18 $3.18

-3.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.42 $1.42

47.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.44 $24.44

$24.94 $24.94

-2.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.06 $1.06

-14.15%

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

$34.6K $34.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

8.30%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.65%

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

$125 $125

$185 $185

-32.54%

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

$44.84 $44.84

$61.7 $61.7

-27.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 $64.5

$66.9 $66.9

-3.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.05 $43.05

$75.2 $75.2

-42.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$16.75 $16.75

$14.71 $14.71

13.87%

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

$2,277 $2,277

$2,020 $2,020

12.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$39.4K $39.4K

-39.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 $74.2

$64.6 $64.6

14.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 $63.7

$52.5 $52.5

21.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 $74.2

$97.8 $97.8

-24.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$148 $148

-8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$2,313 $2,313

-32.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 $1,339

$1,590 $1,590

-15.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$4,608 $4,608

-43.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,190 $2,190

$2,779 $2,779

-21.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 $2,315

$3,922 $3,922

-40.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,101 $2,101

$2,613 $2,613

-19.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.6

0.30%

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

Last update for Brookhaven, NY: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,571 in Brookhaven, NY and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $101 in Brookhaven, NY vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $444 vs $447, with Brookhaven, NY cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Brookhaven, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,987 in Brookhaven, NY and $4,616 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: $1,571 in Brookhaven, NY versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,658 per month in Brookhaven, NY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brookhaven, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Brookhaven, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.