Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Brookings, SD: $2,639 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Brookings, SD
Learn more

Brookings, SD Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Brookings, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,639

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brookings, SD and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brookings, SD and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,639 per month in Brookings, SD vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Brookings, SD $2,639
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,597 per month in Brookings, SD vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Brookings, SD $3,597
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,556 per month in Brookings, SD vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Brookings, SD $4,556
Chicago, IL $6,019

Brookings, SD is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Brookings, SD and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Brookings, SD by 95%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.36 $17.36

$20.39 $20.39

-14.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.21 $39.21

$88.6 $88.6

-55.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.52 $11.52

$12.85 $12.85

-10.35%

Cappuccino

$4.52 $4.52

$5.78 $5.78

-21.80%

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

$2.46 $2.46

$2.74 $2.74

-10.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.26 $2.26

-11.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$6.88 $6.88

-14.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 $6.81

$9.24 $9.24

-26.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.26 $1.26

-29.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.55 $3.55

3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$5.38 $5.38

19.70%

Eggs

$3.52 $3.52

$4.55 $4.55

-22.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 $10.38

$13.65 $13.65

-23.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 $13.66

$14.07 $14.07

-2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$18.06 $18.06

-28.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.16 $5.16

10.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.98 $1.98

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$3.88 $3.88

70.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.83 $4.83

4.97%

Potato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.81 $2.81

58.72%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.67 $2.67

59.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.07 $2.07

10.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.03 $3.03

-33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.84 $12.84

$13.90 $13.90

-7.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 $12.05

$15.05 $15.05

-19.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.63 $2.63

9.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 $5.81

$3.45 $3.45

68.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.17 $3.17

54.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.70 $1.70

-1.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.75 $23.75

$24.90 $24.90

-4.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.28 $1.28

-18.75%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$35.8K $35.8K

-17.39%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.40%

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

$184 $184

$192 $192

-3.98%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$69.6 $69.6

-17.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$62.2 $62.2

11.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$12.03 $12.03

$17.83 $17.83

-32.53%

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

$1,316 $1,316

$1,815 $1,815

-27.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.7K $36.7K

$40.6K $40.6K

-9.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.51 $42.51

$66.2 $66.2

-35.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 $34.79

$51.4 $51.4

-32.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$103 $103

-14.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$143 $143

-26.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,715 $1,715

$2,531 $2,531

-32.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$1,621 $1,621

-9.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,051 $2,051

$4,828 $4,828

-57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 $2,107

$2,734 $2,734

-22.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,339 $2,339

$4,163 $4,163

-43.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,374 $2,374

$2,723 $2,723

-12.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

6.78

-18.88%

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

Last update for Brookings, SD: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Brookings, SD

$1.5K 55.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 11.1% $162

Groceries & Markets

Brookings, SD

$421 16%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 4.4% $18

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Brookings, SD

$311 11.8%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 4.1% $13

Eating Out

Brookings, SD

$288 10.9%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 19.3% $56

Clothing & Footwear

Brookings, SD

$122 4.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 34.4% $42

Sport & Entertainment

Brookings, SD

$24 * 0.9%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 247% $59

Getting Around

Brookings, SD

$13 * 0.5%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 630% $83

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,715 in Brookings, SD versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39 in Brookings, SD versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 vs $439 – making Brookings, SD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Brookings, SD

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:36 5:36 AM

Same time as Brookings, SD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

18,802

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Brookings, SD Chicago, IL 790 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Brookings, SD
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Brookings, SD vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Brookings, SD, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,958 per month in Brookings, SD and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brookings, SD, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,715 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39 in Brookings, SD and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,639 in Brookings, SD and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brookings, SD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.