Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brainerd, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brainerd, MN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 29.3% more expensive than Brainerd, MN without rent, and 30.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 56.6% more expensive than Brainerd, MN without rent, and 61.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.16 $14.16

47.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65 $65

54.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.07 $10.07

18.87%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$1.91 $1.91

191.10%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.3 $2.3

35.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.92 $1.92

26.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.04 $6.04

13.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.83 $5.83

44.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.03 $1.03

0.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.23 $3.23

28.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.98 $3.98

38.69%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.43 $2.43

91.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.53 $9.53

50.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.33 $8.33

78.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.57 $12.57

53.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.98 $4.98

3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.17 $1.17

46.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.79 $5.79

-23.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.98 $4.98

-9.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.79 $3.79

-33.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.64 $3.64

-24.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.92 $1.92

40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.62 $10.62

43.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$10.79 $10.79

52.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.63 $4.63

-20.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$40.79 $40.79

81.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.37 $1.37

3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.99 $28.99

-12.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.81 $0.81

33.33%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.2K $35.2K

-7.90%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.08%

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

$188 $188

$220 $220

-14.41%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$45.27 $45.27

40.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.4 $59.4

9.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.72 $42.72

79.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$8.93 $8.93

67.19%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,181 $1,181

74.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30.1K $30.1K

30.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$39.28 $39.28

63.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.7 $41.7

25.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$59.2 $59.2

60.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$66.3 $66.3

118.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,609 $1,609

47.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,222 $1,222

29.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,660 $2,660

79.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,487 $1,487

89.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,433 $2,433

47.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,417 $2,417

3.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brainerd, MN: October 28, 2025

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