Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, SD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, SD and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Brookings, SD is 13.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Brookings, SD is 36% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.81 $17.81
$20.82 $20.82
-14.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.93 $39.93
$100 $100
-60.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.56 $11.56
$11.97 $11.97
-3.43%
Cappuccino
$4.49 $4.49
$5.56 $5.56
-19.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.11 $3.11
-21.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$6.86 $6.86
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 $7.19
$8.45 $8.45
-14.91%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.04 $1.04
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$4.15 $4.15
-13.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$5.52 $5.52
-0.54%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.65 $4.65
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.17 $11.17
$14.33 $14.33
-22.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.2 $14.2
$14.88 $14.88
-4.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 $11.67
$19.34 $19.34
-39.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.37 $6.37
$5.17 $5.17
23.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.71 $1.71
-11.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.04 $7.04
$4.41 $4.41
59.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$4.51 $4.51
20.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.53 $2.53
20.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.74 $2.74
39.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.43 $2.43
4.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.7 $2.7
-32.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.79 $11.79
$15.19 $15.19
-22.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.94 $11.94
$16.42 $16.42
-27.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.35 $2.35
-3.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 $4.89
$3.7 $3.7
32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 $4.8
$3.34 $3.34
43.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.42 $1.42
19.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.22 $24.22
$25.42 $25.42
-4.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 $161
$188 $188
-14.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2 $52.2
$63.7 $63.7
-18.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68 $68
$65.2 $65.2
4.31%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.26 $43.26
$76.7 $76.7
-43.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.2 $12.2
$14.93 $14.93
-18.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,626 $1,626
$2,063 $2,063
-21.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27K $27K
$39.2K $39.2K
-31.10%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.67 $41.67
$64.3 $64.3
-35.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32 $34.32
$52.4 $52.4
-34.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 $89.5
$95.2 $95.2
-6.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$145 $145
-19.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,602 $1,602
$2,378 $2,378
-32.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,354 $1,354
$1,584 $1,584
-14.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,643 $2,643
$4,763 $4,763
-44.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$2,815 $2,815
-21.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,054 $3,054
$3,588 $3,588
-14.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,692 $3,692
$2,490 $2,490
48.24%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
6.6
-16.67%

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

Last update for Brookings, SD: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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