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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.6% cheaper than Brooklyn, NY without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.5% cheaper than Brooklyn, NY without rent, and 23.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.16 $20.16
3.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$118 $118
-14.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.73 $12.73
-5.97%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.92 $5.92
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.78 $2.78
11.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.12 $2.12
14.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.18 $8.18
-16.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.18 $8.18
3.30%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.44 $1.44
-27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.74 $4.74
-12.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.22 $6.22
-11.25%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.57 $5.57
-16.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.77 $13.77
4.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.45 $12.45
19.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.91 $14.91
29.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.98 $5.98
-13.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$4.13 $4.13
-58.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.57 $5.57
-20.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.41 $6.41
-29.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$5.12 $5.12
-50.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.76 $4.76
-42.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.67 $2.67
-8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.28 $2.28
18.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$15.27 $15.27
-0.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$19.26 $19.26
-14.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.51 $2.51
-6.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.65 $3.65
1.37%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.96 $2.96
-14.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$129 $129
-42.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.93 $2.93
13.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.15 $2.15
-33.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.52 $41.52
-38.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.5K $25.5K
27.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.7K $24.7K
6.34%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$163 $163
15.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$59.9 $59.9
6.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.3 $67.3
-3.16%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$112 $112
-31.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$67.6 $67.6
-80.73%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$19.7 $19.7
-24.21%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,931 $1,931
6.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$14.2K $14.2K
175.62%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$62.4 $62.4
3.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$58.4 $58.4
-10.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$112 $112
-14.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$132 $132
9.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$3,132 $3,132
-24.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,355 $2,355
-32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$6,120 $6,120
-22.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,338 $4,338
-35.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$15.4K $15.4K
-76.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$9,494 $9,494
-73.77%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,733 $3,733
41.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: October 28, 2025

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