Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brentwood, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brentwood, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.8% more expensive than Brentwood, CA without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 22% more expensive than Brentwood, CA without rent, and 14.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$29.58 $29.58
-29.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$111 $111
-9.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.19 $14.19
-15.64%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.14 $6.14
-9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.61 $3.61
-13.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$3.3 $3.3
-26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.98 $8.98
-23.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.15 $9.15
-7.65%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.32 $1.32
-21.21%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.82 $4.82
-13.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.07 $3.07
79.80%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.43 $5.43
-14.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.15 $11.15
28.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.2 $11.2
32.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.49 $12.49
54.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.51 $4.51
14.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.18 $2.18
-21.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.32 $4.32
2.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.87 $4.87
-7.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.99 $2.99
-15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.49 $3.49
-21.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.71 $2.71
-10.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.73 $2.73
-1.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.67 $8.67
75.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.09 $14.09
16.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.15 $2.15
9.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.28 $2.28
62.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.41 $4.41
-24.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.88 $1.88
-24.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.67 $29.67
-14.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.25 $1.25
-13.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.5K $29.5K
9.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.9K $26.9K
-2.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$215 $215
-12.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$38.71 $38.71
64.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.9 $61.9
5.31%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.24 $43.24
77.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$17.8 $17.8
-16.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,171 $1,171
76.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.2K $24.2K
62.21%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$44.74 $44.74
43.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.34 $39.34
33.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$76.4 $76.4
24.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$81.3 $81.3
77.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,590 $1,590
49.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,366 $1,366
16.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,807 $3,807
25.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,178 $2,178
29.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,532 $2,532
41.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,489 $2,489
0.06%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,093 $5,093
3.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brentwood, CA: October 29, 2025

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