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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Brooklyn, NY is 10.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 33.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Brooklyn, NY is 12.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.16 $20.16
$20.82 $20.82
-3.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$100 $100
17.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.73 $12.73
$11.97 $11.97
6.35%
Cappuccino
$5.92 $5.92
$5.56 $5.56
6.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.11 $3.11
-10.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.42 $2.42
-12.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 $8.18
$6.86 $6.86
19.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.18 $8.18
$8.45 $8.45
-3.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.04 $1.04
38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.74 $4.74
$4.15 $4.15
14.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.22 $6.22
$5.52 $5.52
12.68%
Eggs
$5.57 $5.57
$4.65 $4.65
19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.77 $13.77
$14.33 $14.33
-3.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.45 $12.45
$14.88 $14.88
-16.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$19.34 $19.34
-22.91%
Apples (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$5.17 $5.17
15.67%
Banana (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$1.71 $1.71
141.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.41 $4.41
26.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$4.51 $4.51
42.13%
Potato (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$2.53 $2.53
102.37%
Onion (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$2.74 $2.74
73.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.43 $2.43
9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.7 $2.7
-15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.27 $15.27
$15.19 $15.19
0.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.26 $19.26
$16.42 $16.42
17.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.35 $2.35
6.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.7 $3.7
-1.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.53 $2.53
17.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$129 $129
$74.1 $74.1
74.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.42 $1.42
51.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.52 $41.52
$25.42 $25.42
63.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-21.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.96%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 $163
$188 $188
-13.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.9 $59.9
$63.7 $63.7
-6.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3 $67.3
$65.2 $65.2
3.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 $112
$76.7 $76.7
46.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.6 $67.6
$13.03 $13.03
419.03%
Cinema Ticket
$19.7 $19.7
$14.93 $14.93
31.95%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,931 $1,931
$2,063 $2,063
-6.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K $14.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-63.72%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 $62.4
$64.3 $64.3
-2.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 $58.4
$52.4 $52.4
11.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$95.2 $95.2
17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 $132
$145 $145
-8.42%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,132 $3,132
$2,378 $2,378
31.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 $2,355
$1,584 $1,584
48.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,120 $6,120
$4,763 $4,763
28.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,338 $4,338
$2,815 $2,815
54.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.4K $15.4K
$3,588 $3,588
328.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,494 $9,494
$2,490 $2,490
281.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,733 $3,733
$5,275 $5,275
-29.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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