Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Barrington, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Barrington, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,753 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,076 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,400 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Barrington, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Barrington, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Barrington, IL by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$20.22 $20.22

-1.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$73.8 $73.8

19.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.48 $11.48

15.24%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.19 $5.19

12.91%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.71 $2.71

-3.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.04 $2.04

13.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.05 $6.05

16.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.15 $7.15

29.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.11 $1.11

20.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.76 $3.76

11.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.32 $4.32

27.31%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.20 $4.20

12.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$15.60 $15.60

-5.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$10.90 $10.90

33.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$16.47 $16.47

19.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.80 $5.80

-2.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.08 $2.08

-5.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.51 $4.51

-10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.96 $6.96

-27.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.80 $2.80

5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.12 $2.12

37.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.92 $1.92

18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.32 $2.32

34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.92 $9.92

63.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.69 $16.69

-9.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.20 $2.20

21.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.25 $3.25

7.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.99 $1.99

27.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$115 $115

-34.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.81 $2.81

12.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.58 $1.58

-13.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$33.93 $33.93

-33.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.08 $1.08

11.11%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.6K $35.6K

4.05%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.99%

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

$190 $190

$228 $228

-17.00%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$48.89 $48.89

40.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$59.4 $59.4

2.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$65.6 $65.6

-2.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$15.20 $15.20

82.89%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$14.25 $14.25

28.28%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,439 $1,439

5.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$26.6K $26.6K

20.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$51.8 $51.8

23.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$42.13 $42.13

29.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.9 $88.9

13.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$113 $113

35.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,616 $1,616

49.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,150 $1,150

47.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,511 $2,511

82.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,178 $2,178

27.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,360 $2,360

76.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,231 $2,231

22.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$5,845 $5,845

-18.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Barrington, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,616 in Barrington, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Barrington, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Barrington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $427 – making Barrington, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Barrington, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,129 in Barrington, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Barrington, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Barrington, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,525 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,439 in Barrington, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,753 in Barrington, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barrington, IL costs $2,753 versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Barrington, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.