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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,562 in Berwyn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,732 in Berwyn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,901 in Berwyn, IL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 21% more expensive than in Berwyn, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Berwyn, IL 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$19.80 $19.80

0.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$69.7 $69.7

26.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$9.92 $9.92

33.37%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.92 $4.92

19.11%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.73 $2.73

-4.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.03 $2.03

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.16 $6.16

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.41 $7.41

24.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.88 $0.88

52.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.19 $3.19

31.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.08 $5.08

8.27%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.53 $4.53

3.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$10.18 $10.18

44.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$13.53 $13.53

7.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$16.89 $16.89

16.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.10 $5.10

10.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.48 $1.48

33.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.17 $4.17

-3.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.01 $5.01

1.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.49 $2.49

18.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.59 $2.59

12.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.20 $2.20

3.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.32 $2.32

34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.52 $10.52

53.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.97 $14.97

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.04 $2.04

30.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.45 $3.45

0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.12 $2.12

19.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.78 $2.78

13.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.39 $1.39

-1.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$21.09 $21.09

7.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.23 $1.23

-2.44%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

4.60%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

3.97%

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

$190 $190

-0.07%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$69.0 $69.0

-0.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$62.2 $62.2

-1.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$46.27 $46.27

37.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$14.15 $14.15

29.19%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,558 $1,558

-2.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$24.2K $24.2K

32.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$54.8 $54.8

16.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$43.98 $43.98

23.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$95.0 $95.0

5.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$118 $118

30.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,629 $1,629

48.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,331 $1,331

26.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,604 $2,604

76.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,142 $2,142

29.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$3,012 $3,012

38.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,041 $2,041

34.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Berwyn, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,629 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $70.0 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $400 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,659 in Chicago, IL and $3,844 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,629 in Berwyn, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,558 in Berwyn, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Berwyn, IL – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.