Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Breckenridge, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Breckenridge, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,258 in Breckenridge, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,688 in Breckenridge, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,117 in Breckenridge, CO, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 6% cheaper than Breckenridge, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Breckenridge, CO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Breckenridge, CO by 143%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.23 $18.23

14.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$72.8 $72.8

34.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.61 $11.61

2.15%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.80 $4.80

16.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.03 $2.03

51.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.49 $2.49

-0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.19 $7.19

-0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.62 $6.62

22.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.18 $3.18

29.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.34 $3.34

67.96%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.20 $4.20

7.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$11.20 $11.20

27.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$8.42 $8.42

76.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$11.79 $11.79

62.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.94 $3.94

30.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.49 $1.49

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.33 $4.33

1.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.76 $3.76

21.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.30 $2.30

10.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.88 $1.88

46.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.62 $1.62

61.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$14.47 $14.47

3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$18.75 $18.75

-21.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.29 $2.29

7.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.81 $2.81

32.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.95 $1.95

27.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.53 $2.53

25.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.43 $1.43

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$25.25 $25.25

-1.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.87 $0.87

21.84%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

25.97%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.79%

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

$185 $185

$165 $165

11.82%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$43.12 $43.12

43.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$75.6 $75.6

-11.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$69.4 $69.4

8.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$27.47 $27.47

-52.38%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.13 $12.13

21.27%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,504 $1,504

34.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$12.5K $12.5K

214.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$59.2 $59.2

9.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$29.86 $29.86

75.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$80.8 $80.8

21.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$109 $109

35.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,546 $2,546

-9.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$2,110 $2,110

-24.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$5,076 $5,076

-9.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$3,667 $3,667

-24.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,666 $2,666

47.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,330 $2,330

12.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$6,069 $6,069

-14.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.59

0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Breckenridge, CO: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,546 in Breckenridge, CO. 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 16% higher in Breckenridge, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $73.0 in Breckenridge, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $341 – making Breckenridge, CO 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 Breckenridge, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Breckenridge, CO costs about 6% more than Chicago, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,887 in Breckenridge, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $3,258 in Breckenridge, CO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,020 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,504 in Breckenridge, CO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $3,258 in Breckenridge, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Breckenridge, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.