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: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,638 in Brookhaven, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $4,001 in Brookhaven, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $5,363 in Brookhaven, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 17% more expensive than in Brookhaven, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Brookhaven, NY 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.79 $19.79

5.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$101 $101

-2.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$14.02 $14.02

-15.12%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.29 $5.29

10.40%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.40 $2.40

27.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.93 $1.93

21.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.83 $6.83

0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.80 $8.80

-8.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.28 $1.28

-17.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.68 $3.68

8.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.27 $5.27

6.26%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.90 $4.90

-7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$21.44 $21.44

-33.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.98 $11.98

24.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$16.96 $16.96

12.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.89 $4.89

8.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 $1.77

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.91 $3.91

8.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.13 $4.13

5.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.79 $2.79

-8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.89 $3.89

-28.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.41 $2.41

2.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.69 $2.69

0.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.20 $12.20

22.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$24.23 $24.23

-39.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.75 $1.75

35.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$5.82 $5.82

-38.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.97 $1.97

23.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.04 $3.04

10.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.00 $2.00

-31.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$23.74 $23.74

6.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$35.2K $35.2K

-8.41%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.90%

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

$188 $188

$128 $128

47.03%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$45.58 $45.58

38.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$64.9 $64.9

1.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.96 $42.96

75.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$17.03 $17.03

-13.09%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$2,223 $2,223

-5.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.3K $23.3K

65.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$73.4 $73.4

-11.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$62.9 $62.9

-18.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$75.0 $75.0

28.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$132 $132

10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,588 $1,588

46.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,347 $1,347

17.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,657 $2,657

79.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,198 $2,198

23.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,809 $2,809

43.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,590 $2,590

3.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Brookhaven, NY: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,588 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $101 in Brookhaven, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $464 per month, with Chicago, IL 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 Brookhaven, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brookhaven, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,626 in Chicago, IL and $3,957 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,588 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,638 in Brookhaven, NY – a 17% 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 17% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.