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 $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,765 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,079 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,392 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 10% more than Barrington, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Barrington, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Barrington, IL by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$18.95 $18.95

9.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.3 $74.3

35.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.95 $10.95

8.31%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.96 $4.96

11.69%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.60 $2.60

17.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.96 $1.96

26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.07 $6.07

14.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.05 $7.05

15.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.17 $1.17

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.83 $3.83

2.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.44 $4.44

22.07%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.15 $4.15

7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$15.39 $15.39

-5.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.14 $11.14

36.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$15.55 $15.55

23.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.80 $5.80

-7.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.98 $1.98

-14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.17 $4.17

3.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.81 $6.81

-33.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.79 $2.79

-8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.14 $2.14

26.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.02 $2.02

19.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.19 $2.19

19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.67 $9.67

55.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$16.97 $16.97

-13.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.85 $1.85

34.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.46 $3.46

6.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.96 $1.96

30.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$116 $116

-35.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.42 $3.42

-3.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.66 $1.66

-13.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.71 $29.71

-16.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$30.0K $30.0K

6.01%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.53%

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

$183 $183

$231 $231

-20.81%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$48.46 $48.46

27.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$60.8 $60.8

6.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$65.5 $65.5

16.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$15.04 $15.04

-13.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.23 $14.23

3.65%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,440 $1,440

42.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$27.5K $27.5K

40.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$50.6 $50.6

26.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.40 $39.40

30.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$85.3 $85.3

14.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$110 $110

33.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,583 $1,583

48.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,361 $1,361

16.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,609 $2,609

80.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,251 $2,251

20.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,336 $2,336

70.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,270 $2,270

15.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$5,724 $5,724

-17.48%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Barrington, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,583 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 21% 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $74 in Barrington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $422 – 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 10% 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 $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,147 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 54% less in Barrington, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,056 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,440 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 $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,765 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 $2,765 versus $3,051 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.