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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,487 in Bourbonnais, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,624 in Bourbonnais, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,762 in Bourbonnais, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Bourbonnais, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bourbonnais, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Bourbonnais, IL by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$18.24 $18.24

13.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.5 $64.5

55.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.15 $10.15

16.85%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.18 $5.18

6.95%

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

$3.06 $3.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.22 $2.22

11.71%

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

$7.08 $7.08

14.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.79 $0.79

31.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.77 $2.77

41.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.24 $4.24

27.83%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$1.97 $1.97

127.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$4.41 $4.41

229.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$12.47 $12.47

21.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$8.99 $8.99

114.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.67 $5.67

-4.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.16 $1.16

45.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.55 $4.55

-5.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.42 $2.42

86.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.79 $1.79

43.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.78 $1.78

51.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.33 $1.33

81.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.93 $1.93

35.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$4.98 $4.98

201.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$10.23 $10.23

43.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.45 $1.45

71.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.21 $1.21

204.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.05 $2.05

24.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$80.6 $80.6

-6.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.72 $2.72

20.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.12 $2.12

-32.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$20.91 $20.91

18.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.80 $0.80

36.25%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$30.2K $30.2K

5.30%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.81%

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

$183 $183

$181 $181

1.04%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$28.60 $28.60

116.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$39.31 $39.31

65.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.46 $43.46

75.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.86 $14.86

-0.74%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,802 $1,802

14.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$24.6K $24.6K

56.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$35.26 $35.26

81.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$26.45 $26.45

95.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$80.1 $80.1

21.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$90.5 $90.5

62.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,619 $1,619

45.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,333 $1,333

18.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,613 $2,613

80.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,198 $2,198

23.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,844 $2,844

39.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,502 $2,502

5.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$8,364 $8,364

-43.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.25

5.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Bourbonnais, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,619 in Bourbonnais, 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 77% higher in Bourbonnais, 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 $65 in Bourbonnais, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $296 – making Bourbonnais, 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 Bourbonnais, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,731 in Bourbonnais, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bourbonnais, 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 7% less in Bourbonnais, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,056 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,802 in Bourbonnais, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bourbonnais, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,487, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In Bourbonnais, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bourbonnais, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Bourbonnais, 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.