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 $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,777 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,015 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,254 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 11% more than Barrington, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Barrington, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Barrington, IL by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.31 $19.31

7.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$74.2 $74.2

32.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.83 $10.83

9.88%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.07 $5.07

15.19%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.56 $2.56

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.06 $6.06

13.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.19 $7.19

12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.15 $1.15

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.84 $3.84

3.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.25 $4.25

31.76%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.33 $4.33

5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$15.17 $15.17

-6.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.92 $10.92

36.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.25 $15.25

25.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.94 $5.94

-10.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.02 $2.02

-15.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.14 $4.14

2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.77 $6.77

-35.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.86 $2.86

-10.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.20 $2.20

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.00 $2.00

23.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.31 $9.31

60.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$16.81 $16.81

-12.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.76 $1.76

34.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.33 $3.33

7.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.99 $1.99

22.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$120 $120

-37.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.48 $3.48

-3.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.59 $1.59

-13.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.43 $29.43

-14.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

7.26%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.96%

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

$188 $188

$232 $232

-18.83%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$49.23 $49.23

28.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$60.9 $60.9

8.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$65.7 $65.7

15.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

$15.16 $15.16

-12.93%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.54 $14.54

1.79%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,494 $1,494

40.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

44.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$52.1 $52.1

24.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.29 $40.29

28.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$86.2 $86.2

11.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$111 $111

31.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,612 $1,612

44.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,335 $1,335

18.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,659 $2,659

79.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,265 $2,265

20.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,388 $2,388

68.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,214 $2,214

21.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$5,786 $5,786

-13.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Barrington, IL: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,612 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 16% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Barrington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $419 – 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 11% more than Barrington, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,165 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 59% less in Barrington, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,097 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,494 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 $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,777 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 $2,777 versus $3,084 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.