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: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,611 in Brownsburg, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,810 in Brownsburg, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $5,009 in Brownsburg, IN.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Brownsburg, IN 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.10 $19.10

6.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$75.2 $75.2

30.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$10.79 $10.79

11.86%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.11 $5.11

12.13%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.59 $2.59

14.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.05 $2.05

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.01 $6.01

16.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.82 $6.82

20.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.99 $0.99

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.44 $3.44

18.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.37 $4.37

25.86%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.27 $4.27

8.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.16 $12.16

18.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$11.48 $11.48

32.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.20 $15.20

26.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.81 $4.81

6.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.65 $1.65

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.13 $4.13

5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.76 $4.76

-8.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.91 $2.91

-16.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.76 $2.76

1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.00 $2.00

26.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.21 $2.21

20.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.62 $9.62

54.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$12.21 $12.21

22.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.79 $1.79

36.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.45 $3.45

2.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.45 $3.45

-3.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.61 $1.61

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$28.66 $28.66

-12.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.2K $29.2K

8.91%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.68%

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

$187 $187

$184 $184

1.45%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$52.6 $52.6

20.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$67.7 $67.7

-3.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$43.47 $43.47

74.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.54 $13.54

9.31%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,306 $1,306

55.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

67.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$50.2 $50.2

27.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$39.53 $39.53

30.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$86.9 $86.9

10.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$114 $114

27.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,611 $1,611

44.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,365 $1,365

17.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,621 $2,621

79.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,187 $2,187

24.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,565 $2,565

49.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,446 $2,446

3.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$8,018 $8,018

-36.40%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Brownsburg, IN: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,611 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brownsburg, IN pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Brownsburg, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $382 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, Brownsburg, IN earns 57% less. 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,611 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,611 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.