Cost of Living Comparison Between Brunswick, GA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Brunswick, GA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,726 in Brunswick, GA versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,030 in Brunswick, GA versus $4,599 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,334 in Brunswick, GA versus $6,092 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Brunswick, GA costs roughly 12% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brunswick, GA 98% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$19.86 $19.86

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$140 $140

$88.3 $88.3

58.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.99 $11.99

$13.23 $13.23

-9.37%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.86 $5.86

-0.51%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$2.61 $2.61

14.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.32 $2.32

-0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.64 $6.64

$7.03 $7.03

-5.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 $7.96

$9.25 $9.25

-13.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.34 $1.34

-17.16%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.50 $5.50

-13.27%

Eggs

$5.46 $5.46

$4.71 $4.71

15.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.96 $22.96

$14.72 $14.72

55.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$14.53 $14.53

1.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.64 $20.64

$19.69 $19.69

4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$8.22 $8.22

$5.64 $5.64

45.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.97 $1.97

-5.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.04 $4.04

26.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.10 $7.10

$5.07 $5.07

40.04%

Potato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.94 $2.94

69.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.92 $2.92

31.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.28 $2.28

23.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.12 $3.12

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 $9.91

$16.19 $16.19

-38.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.13 $20.13

$15.17 $15.17

32.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.67 $2.67

7.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.48 $3.48

-12.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.16 $3.16

-2.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.37 $1.37

-11.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.88 $31.88

$22.66 $22.66

40.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.20 $1.20

-26.67%

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

$30.7K $30.7K

$37.0K $37.0K

-16.98%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.60%

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

$229 $229

$190 $190

20.97%

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

$67.8 $67.8

$68.5 $68.5

-0.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.9 $84.9

$61.1 $61.1

39.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 $56.5

$63.8 $63.8

-11.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.74 $24.74

$27.80 $27.80

-11.01%

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$18.28 $18.28

-24.56%

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

$587 $587

$1,525 $1,525

-61.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.6K $18.6K

$32.0K $32.0K

-42.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.6 $78.6

$64.0 $64.0

22.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.33 $45.33

$54.4 $54.4

-16.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$101 $101

11.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.0 $76.0

$153 $153

-50.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,479 $1,479

$2,421 $2,421

-38.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 $1,179

$1,690 $1,690

-30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,543 $2,543

$4,584 $4,584

-44.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 $1,716

$2,782 $2,782

-38.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,206 $4,206

$4,170 $4,170

0.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,187 $3,187

$2,739 $2,739

16.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,150 $3,150

$4,777 $4,777

-34.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

6.38

-4.86%

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

Last update for Brunswick, GA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,479 in Brunswick, GA and $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $140 in Brunswick, GA vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $465 per month, with Chicago, IL 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

Brunswick, GA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brunswick, GA and Chicago, IL differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,726 vs $3,106 including rent). Brunswick, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,479 in Brunswick, GA versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,726 per month in Brunswick, GA versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Brunswick, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Brunswick, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.