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 $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,682 in Bridgeport, CT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,033 in Bridgeport, CT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,383 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 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.61 $19.61

2.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$114 $114

-12.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$12.30 $12.30

-0.57%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.68 $5.68

-1.41%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.04 $2.04

52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.90 $4.90

41.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.85 $7.85

4.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.92 $0.92

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.59 $3.59

10.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.74 $5.74

-2.79%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.69 $3.69

21.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.62 $13.62

6.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.23 $12.23

23.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.84 $14.84

30.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.92 $5.92

-9.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.14 $2.14

-17.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.00 $4.00

8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.41 $5.41

-18.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.56 $1.56

62.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.30 $2.30

17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.48 $2.48

0.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.68 $1.68

54.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.41 $13.41

10.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$12.23 $12.23

24.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.59 $2.59

-4.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.49 $3.49

3.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.80 $1.80

41.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$68.2 $68.2

11.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.06 $3.06

7.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.23 $2.23

-38.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$42.60 $42.60

-40.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

37.75%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$21.5K $21.5K

23.82%

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

$186 $186

$163 $163

13.81%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$58.9 $58.9

6.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.6 $68.6

-3.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$43.22 $43.22

79.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.31 $12.31

19.74%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,929 $1,929

5.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$14.3K $14.3K

179.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$44.27 $44.27

44.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$60.4 $60.4

-15.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$82.3 $82.3

15.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$132 $132

8.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,600 $1,600

44.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,367 $1,367

15.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,633 $2,633

78.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,266 $2,266

20.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$3,881 $3,881

4.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$3,911 $3,911

-31.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,259 $4,259

17.86%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bridgeport, CT: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 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 18% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $114 in Bridgeport, CT. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $399 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 $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,023 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $114 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 $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,682 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 $2,682 versus $3,068 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.