Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brattleboro, VT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brattleboro, VT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $1,886 in Brattleboro, VT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,103 in Brattleboro, VT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,320 in Brattleboro, VT.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 62% more expensive than Brattleboro, VT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Brattleboro, VT 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$20.29 $20.29

1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$89.7 $89.7

12.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.24 $11.24

5.52%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.36 $5.36

3.36%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.09 $3.09

-0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.37 $2.37

4.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.02 $4.02

72.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.66 $6.66

22.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.71 $0.71

46.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.16 $2.16

81.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.48 $2.48

118.55%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.19 $3.19

40.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$13.61 $13.61

6.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$6.27 $6.27

142.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$8.90 $8.90

116.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.80 $2.80

92.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.02 $1.02

65.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.45 $2.45

76.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.36 $3.36

34.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.57 $1.57

63.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.34 $1.34

101.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.56 $1.56

54.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.49 $1.49

75.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.14 $10.14

48.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$7.80 $7.80

88.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.39 $1.39

78.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.18 $1.18

212.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.97 $1.97

29.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.53 $2.53

30.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.71 $1.71

-16.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$28.20 $28.20

-12.34%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

7.84%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.44%

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

$183 $183

$116 $116

58.47%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$48.77 $48.77

26.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$73.5 $73.5

-11.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$15.17 $15.17

401.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$10.61 $10.61

39.02%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$2,777 $2,777

-25.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$27.5K $27.5K

39.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$50.6 $50.6

26.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$45.27 $45.27

13.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$73.1 $73.1

33.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$61.1 $61.1

140.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,027 $1,027

128.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$946 $946

67.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,094 $2,094

124.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,035 $2,035

33.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,066 $2,066

92.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,471 $2,471

6.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,556 $3,556

32.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

10.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Brattleboro, VT: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,027 in Brattleboro, VT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 33% 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 $90 in Brattleboro, VT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $253 per month, with Brattleboro, VT 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 Brattleboro, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brattleboro, VT wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brattleboro, VT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chicago, IL pays 33% 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 $1,027 in Brattleboro, VT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,056 in Chicago, IL versus $2,777 in Brattleboro, VT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brattleboro, VT – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,886 in Brattleboro, VT versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Brattleboro, VT but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Brattleboro, VT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Brattleboro, VT delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,886 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brattleboro, VT hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Brattleboro, VT 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 Brattleboro, VT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.