Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brownsburg, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brownsburg, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL versus $2,530 in Brownsburg, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,576 in Chicago, IL versus $3,756 in Brownsburg, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,143 in Chicago, IL versus $4,983 in Brownsburg, IN.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 19% more expensive than in Brownsburg, IN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Brownsburg, IN 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$18.73 $18.73

8.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$76.3 $76.3

32.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.04 $11.04

9.06%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.21 $5.21

10.56%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.51 $2.51

18.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.01 $2.01

18.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.18 $6.18

16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.13 $7.13

12.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.99 $0.99

10.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.45 $3.45

19.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.39 $4.39

20.50%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$4.11 $4.11

10.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$12.46 $12.46

15.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$11.68 $11.68

26.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$15.32 $15.32

27.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.95 $4.95

9.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.66 $4.66

-1.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.80 $2.80

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.87 $2.87

-5.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.21 $2.21

23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$9.37 $9.37

57.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$11.78 $11.78

29.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.83 $1.83

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.41 $3.41

9.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.46 $3.46

-4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.65 $1.65

-16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$28.80 $28.80

-14.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.85 $0.85

23.53%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.24%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.63%

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

$186 $186

$191 $191

-2.35%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$53.8 $53.8

16.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$67.6 $67.6

-0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.77 $42.77

75.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$13.74 $13.74

9.90%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$1,293 $1,293

56.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.8K $23.8K

67.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$50.4 $50.4

27.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.55 $39.55

29.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$88.3 $88.3

8.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$114 $114

29.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,613 $1,613

44.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,346 $1,346

16.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$2,614 $2,614

78.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$2,203 $2,203

27.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$2,352 $2,352

73.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,515 $2,515

5.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$7,886 $7,886

-38.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Brownsburg, IN: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,329 in Chicago, IL and $1,613 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brownsburg, IN pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Brownsburg, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $383 per month, with Brownsburg, IN 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 Brownsburg, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brownsburg, IN is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Brownsburg, IN. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,613 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,530 in Brownsburg, IN – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brownsburg, IN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Brownsburg, IN 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 Brownsburg, IN 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 Brownsburg, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.