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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,783 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $4,148 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $5,513 in Brentwood, CA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 10% more expensive than Brentwood, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Brentwood, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$29.75 $29.75

-30.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$111 $111

-9.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$13.90 $13.90

-14.68%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$6.21 $6.21

-10.79%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.64 $3.64

-15.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.42 $3.42

-27.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$9.08 $9.08

-23.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.78 $8.78

-7.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.31 $1.31

-20.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.69 $4.69

-16.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.21 $3.21

68.85%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$5.42 $5.42

-17.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.12 $11.12

30.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$10.89 $10.89

39.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$12.64 $12.64

52.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.69 $4.69

14.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.23 $2.23

-24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.34 $4.34

-0.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.97 $4.97

-9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.98 $2.98

-14.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.50 $3.50

-22.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.78 $2.78

-13.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.64 $2.64

-0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.53 $8.53

76.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.14 $2.14

15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.36 $2.36

56.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.06 $2.06

23.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.45 $4.45

-26.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.88 $1.88

-23.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.60 $29.60

-16.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.20 $1.20

-9.17%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$29.6K $29.6K

7.15%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.0K $27.0K

-2.04%

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

$183 $183

$218 $218

-16.09%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$39.11 $39.11

58.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$62.9 $62.9

3.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.67 $43.67

74.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$18.18 $18.18

-18.87%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,153 $1,153

78.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$24.3K $24.3K

58.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$44.85 $44.85

42.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.26 $40.26

28.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$78.4 $78.4

24.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$80.6 $80.6

82.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,611 $1,611

45.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,372 $1,372

15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$3,902 $3,902

20.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,220 $2,220

22.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,987 $2,987

33.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,107 $2,107

24.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$5,001 $5,001

-5.54%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,611 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brentwood, CA pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $111 in Brentwood, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $403, with Brentwood, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Brentwood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Brentwood, CA differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,783 including rent). Brentwood, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Brentwood, CA earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,611 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,783 in Brentwood, CA – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Brentwood, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Brentwood, CA 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 Brentwood, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.