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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,757 in Berwyn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $4,026 in Berwyn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $5,294 in Berwyn, IL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 11% more expensive than Berwyn, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Berwyn, IL 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$20.27 $20.27

1.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.2 $79.2

26.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.13 $10.13

17.08%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.79 $5.79

-4.32%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.07 $3.07

-0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.24 $2.24

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.93 $4.93

40.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.22 $8.22

-1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.00 $4.00

-2.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.40 $5.40

0.37%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.14 $4.14

8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$14.50 $14.50

0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$13.00 $13.00

17.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$19.36 $19.36

-0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.57 $5.57

-3.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.70 $1.70

-0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.46 $4.46

-3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.72 $4.72

-4.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.57 $2.57

-0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.79 $2.79

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.43 $2.43

-0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.77 $14.77

1.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.66 $15.66

-6.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.83 $1.83

35.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.74 $3.74

-1.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.06 $2.06

23.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$73.5 $73.5

2.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.86 $2.86

15.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$21.04 $21.04

17.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$31.5K $31.5K

0.95%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.02%

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

$183 $183

$188 $188

-2.28%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$47.75 $47.75

29.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$66.9 $66.9

-2.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.45 $43.45

75.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$15.22 $15.22

-3.09%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,855 $1,855

10.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$24.6K $24.6K

56.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$55.5 $55.5

15.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$45.84 $45.84

12.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$95.3 $95.3

2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$127 $127

15.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,573 $1,573

49.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,355 $1,355

16.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,655 $2,655

77.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,231 $2,231

21.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,298 $2,298

73.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,658 $2,658

-0.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,996 $3,996

18.20%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Berwyn, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,573 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $79 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $437 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,573 in Berwyn, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,056 in Chicago, IL versus $1,855 in Berwyn, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% 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 11% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.