Cost of Living Comparison Between Brownsburg, IN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Brownsburg, IN and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,611 in Brownsburg, IN versus $3,111 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,810 in Brownsburg, IN versus $4,680 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,009 in Brownsburg, IN versus $6,249 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Brownsburg, IN costs roughly 16% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brownsburg, IN 94% above, Chicago, IL 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.10 $19.10

$20.39 $20.39

-6.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$98.2 $98.2

-23.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 $10.79

$12.07 $12.07

-10.60%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.73 $5.73

-10.82%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.97 $2.97

-12.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.47 $2.47

-17.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$6.99 $6.99

-14.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$8.21 $8.21

-16.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.05 $1.05

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.08 $4.08

-15.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.50 $5.50

-20.55%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$4.64 $4.64

-7.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.16 $12.16

$14.40 $14.40

-15.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 $11.48

$15.20 $15.20

-24.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$19.28 $19.28

-21.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$5.14 $5.14

-6.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.76 $1.76

-6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.34 $4.34

-4.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.36 $4.36

9.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.44 $2.44

19.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.79 $2.79

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.52 $2.52

-20.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.66 $2.66

-16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.62 $9.62

$14.90 $14.90

-35.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.21 $12.21

$14.97 $14.97

-18.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.45 $2.45

-26.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.54 $3.54

-2.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.32 $3.32

3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.38 $1.38

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.66 $28.66

$25.11 $25.11

14.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.09 $1.09

-16.51%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$31.9K $31.9K

-8.18%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.55%

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

$184 $184

$187 $187

-1.43%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$63.5 $63.5

-17.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$65.5 $65.5

3.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.47 $43.47

$75.7 $75.7

-42.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$13.54 $13.54

$14.80 $14.80

-8.51%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$2,025 $2,025

-35.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.0K $39.0K

-40.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$64.2 $64.2

-21.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.53 $39.53

$51.7 $51.7

-23.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$95.6 $95.6

-9.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$145 $145

-21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$2,326 $2,326

-30.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 $1,365

$1,611 $1,611

-15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$4,703 $4,703

-44.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 $2,187

$2,721 $2,721

-19.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,565 $2,565

$3,829 $3,829

-33.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,533 $2,533

-3.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,018 $8,018

$5,100 $5,100

57.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Brownsburg, IN: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,611 in Brownsburg, IN and $2,326 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brownsburg, IN pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Brownsburg, IN vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $448 per month, with Brownsburg, IN cheaper across the board.

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

Brownsburg, IN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brownsburg, IN is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Brownsburg, IN pays 57% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,611 in Brownsburg, IN versus $2,326 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,611 per month in Brownsburg, IN versus $3,111 in Chicago, IL – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Brownsburg, IN 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, Brownsburg, IN 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 Brownsburg, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.