Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bridgeport, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bridgeport, CT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,701 in Bridgeport, CT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,050 in Bridgeport, CT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,399 in Bridgeport, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 14% more than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bridgeport, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Bridgeport, CT by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.30 $20.30

3.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$113 $113

-13.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.27 $12.27

-3.34%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.73 $5.73

-2.27%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.09 $2.09

46.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.08 $5.08

40.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.82 $7.82

3.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.01 $1.01

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.45 $3.45

19.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.77 $5.77

-2.77%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.69 $3.69

22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.59 $13.59

5.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.24 $12.24

21.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.58 $14.58

31.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.14 $6.14

-16.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.22 $2.22

-20.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.99 $3.99

10.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.40 $5.40

-15.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.57 $1.57

61.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.31 $2.31

19.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.53 $2.53

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.67 $1.67

56.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$13.64 $13.64

9.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.42 $13.42

10.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.51 $2.51

-1.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.55 $3.55

5.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.79 $1.79

38.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$68.9 $68.9

9.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.96 $2.96

7.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.19 $2.19

-35.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$41.25 $41.25

-39.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.88 $0.88

20.45%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

36.05%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$21.9K $21.9K

19.13%

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

$185 $185

$163 $163

13.18%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$60.0 $60.0

2.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$69.8 $69.8

-4.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.40 $43.40

73.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.23 $12.23

20.28%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,874 $1,874

7.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$14.4K $14.4K

173.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$43.42 $43.42

48.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$58.9 $58.9

-10.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$84.1 $84.1

16.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$134 $134

9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,626 $1,626

42.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,367 $1,367

16.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,591 $2,591

77.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,257 $2,257

23.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$3,925 $3,925

-0.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$3,964 $3,964

-34.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,280 $4,280

21.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bridgeport, CT: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,626 in Bridgeport, CT. 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 22% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $113 in Bridgeport, CT. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $401 in Bridgeport, CT – so Bridgeport, CT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bridgeport, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 14% more than Bridgeport, CT, 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 $4,052 in Bridgeport, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 12% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $113 in Bridgeport, CT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,701 in Bridgeport, CT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bridgeport, CT costs $2,701 versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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