Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,072 a month against $4,230 in Brooklyn, NY, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
204

Cost of Living Index in Brooklyn, NY
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Brooklyn, NY Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Brooklyn, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,230

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Brooklyn, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Brooklyn, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,230 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Brooklyn, NY $4,230

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,364 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Brooklyn, NY $6,364

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $8,497 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Brooklyn, NY $8,497

Chicago, IL is about 27% cheaper than Brooklyn, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Brooklyn, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Brooklyn, NY by 213%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.37 $20.37

0.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$107 $107

-17.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.86 $11.86

8.35%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.49 $5.49

5.28%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.64 $2.64

3.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.27 $2.27

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.82 $7.82

-12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$8.90 $8.90

3.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.67 $1.67

-24.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.58 $4.58

-22.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$7.02 $7.02

-23.36%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$6.59 $6.59

-30.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$16.57 $16.57

-17.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$17.01 $17.01

-17.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$19.96 $19.96

-9.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$7.93 $7.93

-34.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.68 $3.68

-46.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$5.23 $5.23

-25.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$6.04 $6.04

-20.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.02 $4.02

-30.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.79 $4.79

-44.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.64 $2.64

-21.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.43 $2.43

24.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$15.04 $15.04

-7.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$21.33 $21.33

-29.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.74 $2.74

-4.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.26 $3.26

5.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.94 $2.94

-17.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$183 $183

-58.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.96 $2.96

7.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.14 $2.14

-20.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$42.63 $42.63

-41.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.14 $1.14

12.28%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$31.2K $31.2K

14.58%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.49%

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

$192 $192

$219 $219

-12.39%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$60.5 $60.5

15.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$61.3 $61.3

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$123 $123

-61.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$35.28 $35.28

-23.19%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$20.06 $20.06

-11.12%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$3,022 $3,022

-39.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$52.2K $52.2K

-22.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$70.0 $70.0

-5.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$76.8 $76.8

-33.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$122 $122

-15.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$118 $118

20.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$3,827 $3,827

-33.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$2,454 $2,454

-33.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$7,537 $7,537

-35.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$4,441 $4,441

-38.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$12.4K $12.4K

-66.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$7,713 $7,713

-64.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,614 $3,614

36.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Brooklyn, NY

$2.5K 58% 51.4% $833

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Brooklyn, NY

$549 13% 24.9% $109

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Brooklyn, NY

$341 8.1% 0.9% $3.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Brooklyn, NY

$341 8.1% 5.3% $17

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Brooklyn, NY

$174 4.1% 6.5% $11

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Brooklyn, NY

$208 4.9% 116% $112

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Brooklyn, NY

$163 3.9% 95.2% $79

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $3,827 in Brooklyn, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 36% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $107 in Brooklyn, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $549 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Brooklyn, NY

🕒 Local time

09:23 9:23 AM

10:23 10:23 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

2,736,074

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Brooklyn, NY 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Brooklyn, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $4,230 in Brooklyn, NY – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 27% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $6,346 in Brooklyn, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,531 there versus $3,827 in Brooklyn, NY.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $107 in Brooklyn, NY. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $4,230 in Brooklyn, NY. That makes Chicago, IL about 27% cheaper.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $4,230 in Brooklyn, NY. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Brooklyn, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,072 in Chicago, IL to $4,230 in Brooklyn, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

For expats, Chicago, IL is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 27% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.