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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,379 in Brainerd, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,438 in Brainerd, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,496 in Brainerd, MN.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 31% more expensive than in Brainerd, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Brainerd, MN 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$14.75 $14.75

35.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$37.85 $37.85

133.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.87 $10.87

19.04%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$1.88 $1.88

194.68%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 $2.19

25.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.92 $1.92

22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.01 $6.01

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$5.92 $5.92

47.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.86 $0.86

55.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.32 $3.32

25.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.54 $6.54

-12.39%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$2.50 $2.50

95.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.09 $10.09

46.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.08 $10.08

47.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$13.26 $13.26

47.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.10 $6.10

-8.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.87 $1.87

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$6.64 $6.64

-37.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.13 $5.13

-5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.41 $4.41

-35.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.89 $3.89

-28.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.24 $2.24

-1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.67 $2.67

14.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$11.84 $11.84

36.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.04 $13.04

13.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.48 $4.48

-25.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.02 $2.02

26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$40.06 $40.06

88.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.07 $3.07

7.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.59 $1.59

-14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$23.92 $23.92

5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.90 $0.90

30.00%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.65%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.72%

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

$191 $191

$158 $158

21.32%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$45.44 $45.44

49.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$60.8 $60.8

1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$41.96 $41.96

51.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$8.84 $8.84

103.85%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,221 $1,221

24.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$35.9K $35.9K

-12.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$40.50 $40.50

57.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$43.65 $43.65

26.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$59.5 $59.5

68.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$64.2 $64.2

138.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,601 $1,601

50.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,286 $1,286

28.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,516 $2,516

81.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,107 $2,107

31.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,375 $2,375

69.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,388 $2,388

14.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.27

1.75%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Brainerd, MN: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,601 in Brainerd, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $38.00 in Brainerd, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $404 per month, with Brainerd, MN 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 Brainerd, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brainerd, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brainerd, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,676 in Chicago, IL and $3,569 in Brainerd, MN 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,601 in Brainerd, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Brainerd, MN – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,379 in Brainerd, MN – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Brainerd, MN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Brainerd, MN delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,379 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brainerd, MN hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Brainerd, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.