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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16% more expensive than Brookings, SD without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 56.2% more expensive than Brookings, SD without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.81 $17.81
16.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$39.93 $39.93
151.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.56 $11.56
3.55%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.49 $4.49
23.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.45 $2.45
26.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.01 $2.01
20.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.13 $6.13
11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.19 $7.19
17.52%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.98 $0.98
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.57 $3.57
16.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.49 $5.49
0.55%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.17 $11.17
28.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.2 $14.2
4.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.67 $11.67
65.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.37 $6.37
-18.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.51 $1.51
13.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$7.04 $7.04
-37.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.43 $5.43
-16.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.05 $3.05
-17.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.82 $3.82
-28.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.54 $2.54
-4.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.82 $1.82
48.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.79 $11.79
28.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.94 $11.94
37.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.27 $2.27
3.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.89 $4.89
-24.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.8 $4.8
-30.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.69 $1.69
-15.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.22 $24.22
4.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
7.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$161 $161
17.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.2 $52.2
22.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68 $68
-4.13%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.26 $43.26
77.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.2 $12.2
22.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,626 $1,626
26.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$27K $27K
45.14%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$41.67 $41.67
54.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.32 $34.32
52.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$89.5 $89.5
6.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$117 $117
23.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,602 $1,602
48.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,354 $1,354
17.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,643 $2,643
80.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,206 $2,206
27.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,054 $3,054
17.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,692 $3,692
-32.54%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Brookings, SD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
5.5
20.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brookings, SD: October 29, 2025

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