Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brookhaven, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brookhaven, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,658 in Brookhaven, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,960 in Brookhaven, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $5,261 in Brookhaven, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 16% more expensive than Brookhaven, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Brookhaven, NY 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$19.80 $19.80

5.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$101 $101

-2.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.17 $14.17

-16.30%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.53 $5.53

1.27%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.44 $2.44

25.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.93 $1.93

27.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.01 $7.01

1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.75 $8.75

-7.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.35 $1.35

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.78 $3.78

8.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.14 $5.14

9.14%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.69 $4.69

-3.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$21.58 $21.58

-33.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.72 $11.72

27.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.05 $17.05

12.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.79 $4.79

7.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.93 $3.93

11.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.09 $4.09

11.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.89 $2.89

-12.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.83 $3.83

-28.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.36 $2.36

2.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.60 $2.60

0.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.76 $11.76

26.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.88 $14.88

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$6.07 $6.07

-38.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.96 $1.96

26.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.08 $3.08

3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.09 $2.09

-32.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.44 $24.44

2.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.91 $0.91

16.48%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.6K $34.6K

-7.67%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.68%

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

$185 $185

$125 $125

48.24%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$44.84 $44.84

37.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$64.5 $64.5

3.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.05 $43.05

74.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$16.75 $16.75

-12.18%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$2,277 $2,277

-11.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

64.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$74.2 $74.2

-12.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$63.7 $63.7

-17.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$74.2 $74.2

31.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$134 $134

9.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,571 $1,571

47.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,339 $1,339

18.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,621 $2,621

75.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,190 $2,190

26.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,315 $2,315

69.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,101 $2,101

24.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Brookhaven, NY: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,571 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $101 in Brookhaven, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $444, with Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brookhaven, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $3,987 in Brookhaven, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,571 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,658 in Brookhaven, NY – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brookhaven, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Brookhaven, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.