Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brookings, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brookings, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,543 in Brookings, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,754 in Brookings, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,966 in Brookings, OR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Brookings, OR, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Brookings, OR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Brookings, OR by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.62 $19.62

3.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$73.8 $73.8

20.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$9.52 $9.52

38.24%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$6.59 $6.59

-12.44%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.16 $3.16

-16.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.05 $2.05

14.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.93 $5.93

19.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.20 $7.20

27.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.05 $1.05

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.44 $4.44

-8.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.43 $4.43

28.44%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.98 $5.98

-18.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.56 $10.56

42.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$9.87 $9.87

50.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.66 $15.66

23.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.93 $4.93

15.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.59 $1.59

21.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.35 $4.35

-5.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.64 $4.64

10.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.01 $3.01

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.62 $2.62

5.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.47 $2.47

-6.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.26 $2.26

34.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.58 $10.58

50.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.18 $15.18

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.90 $1.90

33.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.33 $3.33

4.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.20 $2.20

15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.11 $3.11

5.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.69 $1.69

-19.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$33.86 $33.86

-33.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.13 $1.13

7.96%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.7K $34.7K

3.99%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

-5.87%

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

$188 $188

$198 $198

-4.83%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$59.6 $59.6

15.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$68.7 $68.7

-7.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$42.97 $42.97

47.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.94 $13.94

28.41%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,633 $1,633

-6.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

24.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$53.0 $53.0

17.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$35.73 $35.73

57.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$90.1 $90.1

11.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$114 $114

36.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,607 $1,607

45.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,285 $1,285

32.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,540 $2,540

80.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,150 $2,150

30.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,223 $3,223

28.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$3,200 $3,200

-14.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Brookings, OR: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,607 in Brookings, OR. 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Brookings, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $397 – making Brookings, OR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Brookings, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,815 in Brookings, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,543 in Brookings, OR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,633 in Brookings, OR. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,543 in Brookings, OR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brookings, OR – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Brookings, OR. 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.