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

😐 Solo nomad: Brunswick, ME is 2.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Brunswick, ME is 6.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.13 $30.13
$20.82 $20.82
44.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 $121
$100 $100
20.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.85 $11.85
$11.97 $11.97
-1.00%
Cappuccino
$6.41 $6.41
$5.56 $5.56
15.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.11 $3.11
-9.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.42 $2.42
-4.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$6.86 $6.86
-26.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81 $7.81
$8.45 $8.45
-7.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.04 $1.04
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 $3.13
$4.15 $4.15
-24.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$5.52 $5.52
-36.05%
Eggs
$2.48 $2.48
$4.65 $4.65
-46.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 $12.95
$14.33 $14.33
-9.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 $10.57
$14.88 $14.88
-28.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.04 $16.04
$19.34 $19.34
-17.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$5.17 $5.17
-35.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.71 $1.71
-10.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.41 $4.41
-2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.85 $4.85
$4.51 $4.51
7.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.53 $2.53
26.09%
Onion (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.74 $2.74
63.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.43 $2.43
1.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.7 $2.7
-31.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.97 $8.97
$15.19 $15.19
-40.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.19 $13.19
$16.42 $16.42
-19.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 $1.34
$2.35 $2.35
-42.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$3.7 $3.7
-49.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 $2.04
$3.34 $3.34
-38.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.68 $29.68
$25.42 $25.42
16.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K $37.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
42.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$188 $188
-14.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 $55.1
$63.7 $63.7
-13.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.7 $80.7
$65.2 $65.2
23.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.73 $43.73
$76.7 $76.7
-43.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.77 $14.77
$14.93 $14.93
-1.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,318 $1,318
$2,063 $2,063
-36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 $50.2
$64.3 $64.3
-21.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.9 $73.9
$52.4 $52.4
41.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$95.2 $95.2
26.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$145 $145
-9.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 $1,597
$2,378 $2,378
-32.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,351 $1,351
$1,584 $1,584
-14.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,486 $2,486
$4,763 $4,763
-47.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,823 $1,823
$2,815 $2,815
-35.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,384 $2,384
$3,588 $3,588
-33.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,115 $2,115
$2,490 $2,490
-15.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brunswick, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,796 $4,796
$5,275 $5,275
-9.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
6.6
1.67%

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

Last update for Brunswick, ME: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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