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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,675 in Brentwood, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,911 in Brentwood, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $5,147 in Brentwood, TN.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 14% more expensive than Brentwood, TN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Brentwood, TN 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$18.03 $18.03

14.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.9 $79.9

25.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.94 $9.94

19.32%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.92 $5.92

-6.42%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.50 $2.50

22.40%

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

$6.41 $6.41

7.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.70 $6.70

21.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.12 $1.12

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.96 $3.96

-1.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.85 $3.85

40.78%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.80 $3.80

17.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.69 $11.69

24.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$15.41 $15.41

-1.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$16.34 $16.34

17.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.33 $4.33

24.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.42 $1.42

19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.58 $2.58

67.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.45 $5.45

-17.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.26 $2.26

13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.94 $3.94

-31.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.30 $2.30

4.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.43 $2.43

7.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.94 $8.94

68.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.08 $15.08

-2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.82 $1.82

36.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.89 $2.89

27.68%

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

$4.89 $4.89

-32.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.60 $1.60

-10.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$20.59 $20.59

20.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$29.8K $29.8K

6.42%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.68%

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

$183 $183

$202 $202

-9.25%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$69.7 $69.7

-11.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$66.8 $66.8

-2.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.06 $43.06

76.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.65 $14.65

0.68%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,113 $1,113

84.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$20.6K $20.6K

87.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$60.0 $60.0

6.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$48.80 $48.80

5.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$108 $108

-9.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$132 $132

11.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,580 $1,580

48.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,355 $1,355

16.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,650 $2,650

77.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,228 $2,228

21.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,668 $2,668

49.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,405 $2,405

9.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$6,127 $6,127

-22.90%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, TN: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,580 in Brentwood, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brentwood, TN pays 30% 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 $80 in Brentwood, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $408 per month, with Brentwood, TN 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 Brentwood, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Brentwood, TN differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,675 including rent). Brentwood, TN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Brentwood, TN earns 30% 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 $1,580 in Brentwood, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% 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 $2,675 in Brentwood, TN – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Brentwood, TN 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.

Expats usually find Brentwood, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.