Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brigham City, UT

For one person, living is cheaper in Brigham City, UT: $2,495 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Brigham City, UT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,495
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Brigham City, UT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Brigham City, UT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,495 in Brigham City, UT, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $3,139
  • Brigham City, UT $2,495

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,686 in Brigham City, UT, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $4,627
  • Brigham City, UT $3,686

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,877 in Brigham City, UT, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $6,115
  • Brigham City, UT $4,877

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Brigham City, UT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Brigham City, UT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Brigham City, UT by 84%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.65 $20.65
$15.87 $15.87
30.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.2 $90.2
$64.4 $64.4
40.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.94 $12.94
$9.98 $9.98
29.66%
Cappuccino
$5.60 $5.60
$5.12 $5.12
9.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.21 $2.21
19.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.46 $1.46
55.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.82 $5.82
19.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.83 $8.83
$7.87 $7.87
12.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.89 $0.89
42.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 $3.80
$3.39 $3.39
12.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$4.21 $4.21
25.89%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$4.15 $4.15
14.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.96 $13.96
$11.63 $11.63
20.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$12.01 $12.01
21.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.77 $18.77
$17.05 $17.05
10.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.12 $4.12
25.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.38 $1.38
43.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.60 $3.60
9.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$4.04 $4.04
22.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.21 $2.21
24.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.41 $2.41
14.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.93 $1.93
15.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.92 $1.92
55.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.02 $14.02
$10.13 $10.13
38.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$15.21 $15.21
0.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.75 $2.75
-6.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 $3.50
$3.26 $3.26
7.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.96 $1.96
26.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.8 $74.8
$171 $171
-56.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.56 $2.56
30.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.35 $2.35
-39.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.32 $24.32
$24.67 $24.67
-1.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.16 $1.16
8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$34.9K $34.9K
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.6K $26.6K
-2.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$191 $191
1.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$48.95 $48.95
39.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3 $61.3
$59.4 $59.4
3.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 $54.1
$37.46 $37.46
44.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 $27.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.74 $17.74
$15.02 $15.02
18.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,652 $1,652
$1,310 $1,310
26.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.1K $31.1K
$20.9K $20.9K
48.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.1 $66.1
$69.7 $69.7
-5.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$46.33 $46.33
10.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$111 $111
-9.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$106 $106
33.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,446 $2,446
$1,376 $1,376
77.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 $1,678
$1,129 $1,129
48.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,717 $4,717
$2,436 $2,436
93.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 $2,795
$1,929 $1,929
44.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,105 $4,105
$3,003 $3,003
36.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$2,533 $2,533
4.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Brigham City, UT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,866 $4,866
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
6.46
5.42%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Brigham City, UT: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
$1.7K
Brigham City, UT
$1.1K 32.7% $549
Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
$449
Brigham City, UT
$379 15.7% $71
Eating Out
Chicago, IL
$343
Brigham City, UT
$278 19.1% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
$322
Brigham City, UT
$299 7.2% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
$161
Brigham City, UT
$150 7.1% $11
Getting Around
Chicago, IL
$95
Brigham City, UT
$194 104% $98
Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
$90
Brigham City, UT
$68 24.7% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,376 in Brigham City, UT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $64.0 in Brigham City, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $379 – making Brigham City, UT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 Brigham City, UT
🕒 Local time
02:37 2:37 AM
01:37 1:37 AM
1 h behind Chicago, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,746,388
19,650
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chicago, IL Brigham City, UT 2,020 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chicago, IL
  • Brigham City, UT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Brigham City, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chicago, IL or Brigham City, UT?
Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Brigham City, UT, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chicago, IL and in Brigham City, UT?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,743 in Brigham City, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chicago, IL or Brigham City, UT?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brigham City, UT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chicago, IL and in Brigham City, UT?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $64.0 in Brigham City, UT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Chicago, IL compared to Brigham City, UT?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,495 in Brigham City, UT. That's a gap of about 26%.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chicago, IL or in Brigham City, UT?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,495 in Brigham City, UT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chicago, IL or Brigham City, UT?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brigham City, UT costs $2,495 versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Chicago, IL or to Brigham City, UT?
If budget matters most, go with Brigham City, UT. 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.

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