Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Barrington, IL: $2,677 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in Barrington, IL
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Barrington, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Barrington, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,677

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Barrington, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Barrington, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,677 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Barrington, IL $2,677

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,008 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Barrington, IL $4,008

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,339 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Barrington, IL $5,339

Chicago, IL costs about 17% more than Barrington, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Barrington, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Barrington, IL by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$20.21 $20.21

2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$74.5 $74.5

21.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.36 $11.36

13.91%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.24 $5.24

6.87%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.60 $2.60

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.05 $2.05

10.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.99 $5.99

16.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.14 $7.14

23.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.16 $1.16

9.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.79 $3.79

0.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.33 $4.33

22.40%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.27 $4.27

11.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$15.24 $15.24

-8.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.09 $11.09

31.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.23 $17.23

8.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.76 $5.76

-9.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.59 $4.59

-14.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.74 $6.74

-26.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.75 $2.75

0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.17 $2.17

27.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.43 $2.43

-8.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.28 $2.28

30.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.15 $10.15

38.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$17.22 $17.22

-11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.87 $1.87

37.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.42 $3.42

2.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.97 $1.97

25.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$117 $117

-35.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.43 $3.43

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.57 $1.57

-8.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$33.06 $33.06

-26.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.17 $1.17

7.69%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

26.07%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.76%

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

$193 $193

$230 $230

-16.32%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$48.44 $48.44

40.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$59.0 $59.0

3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$67.2 $67.2

-19.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$15.27 $15.27

82.84%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$14.61 $14.61

21.42%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,481 $1,481

11.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$27.6K $27.6K

12.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$52.5 $52.5

25.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$41.21 $41.21

24.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$89.8 $89.8

11.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$112 $112

25.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,604 $1,604

52.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,222 $1,222

37.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,526 $2,526

86.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,167 $2,167

29.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,376 $2,376

72.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,187 $2,187

21.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,760 $5,760

-15.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Barrington, IL: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Barrington, IL

$1.2K 45.7% 27.1% $455

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Barrington, IL

$430 16.1% 4.4% $20

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Barrington, IL

$322 12% 6.4% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Barrington, IL

$338 12.6% 4.8% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Barrington, IL

$133 5% 17.5% $28

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Barrington, IL

$136 5.1% 42.6% $41

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Barrington, IL

$96 3.6% 7.6% $6.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,604 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 18% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Barrington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $430 – making Barrington, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Barrington, IL

🕒 Local time

22:16 10:16 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

10,772

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Barrington, IL 52 km

From you

Chicago, IL
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 17% more than Barrington, IL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,015 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 56% less in Barrington, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,652 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,481 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 $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,677 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 $2,677 versus $3,139 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.