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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,685 in Berwyn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,982 in Berwyn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $5,280 in Berwyn, IL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 15% more expensive than in Berwyn, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Berwyn, IL 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.67 $19.67

5.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$80.7 $80.7

22.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.90 $9.90

20.20%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.72 $5.72

2.10%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.08 $3.08

-0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.14 $2.14

9.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.92 $4.92

39.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.03 $8.03

0.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.09 $1.09

-3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.10 $4.10

-2.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.49 $5.49

2.00%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.29 $4.29

6.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$14.09 $14.09

0.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.99 $12.99

14.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$18.98 $18.98

0.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.58 $5.58

-4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.78 $1.78

-3.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.57 $4.57

-7.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.81 $4.81

-9.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.55 $2.55

0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.82 $2.82

-0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.38 $2.38

3.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.74 $2.74

-1.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$15.27 $15.27

-2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.08 $15.08

-2.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.89 $1.89

25.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.61 $3.61

-1.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.98 $1.98

23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$73.9 $73.9

1.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.72 $2.72

23.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$21.27 $21.27

18.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-0.33%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.06%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.70%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$48.53 $48.53

30.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$65.3 $65.3

1.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.98 $42.98

75.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.22 $15.22

-2.76%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,846 $1,846

13.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

58.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$53.9 $53.9

20.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$45.57 $45.57

13.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

-0.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$127 $127

15.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,572 $1,572

48.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,333 $1,333

18.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,595 $2,595

84.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,194 $2,194

24.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,031 $3,031

32.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,299 $2,299

16.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Berwyn, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,572 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $81.0 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $439 per month, with Berwyn, IL cheaper across the board.

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 Berwyn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Berwyn, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,626 in Chicago, IL and $4,027 in Berwyn, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,572 in Berwyn, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,846 in Berwyn, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Berwyn, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Berwyn, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Berwyn, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Berwyn, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.