Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brunswick, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brunswick, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,373 in Brunswick, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,442 in Brunswick, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,512 in Brunswick, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 29% more expensive than Brunswick, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Brunswick, GA 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$19.82 $19.82

4.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.9 $74.9

34.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.12 $10.12

17.19%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.80 $5.80

-4.48%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.17 $2.17

41.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.89 $1.89

31.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.79 $4.79

44.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.12 $6.12

32.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.00 $1.00

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.04 $3.04

28.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.61 $2.61

107.66%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.43 $4.43

1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$10.43 $10.43

39.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$12.02 $12.02

26.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$12.06 $12.06

59.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.69 $5.69

-5.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.83 $1.83

-7.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.45 $4.45

-2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.38 $3.38

33.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.37 $2.37

8.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.60 $2.60

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.39 $1.39

73.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.69 $1.69

55.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.38 $8.38

79.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$20.90 $20.90

-29.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.13 $2.13

16.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.76 $2.76

33.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.06 $2.06

23.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.46 $3.46

-4.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.85 $1.85

-22.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$40.48 $40.48

-38.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.75 $0.75

45.33%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$24.7K $24.7K

28.69%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.6K $24.6K

7.59%

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

$183 $183

$156 $156

17.38%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$58.7 $58.7

5.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$81.9 $81.9

-20.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$57.3 $57.3

32.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$25.30 $25.30

-48.46%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$13.68 $13.68

7.82%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$600 $600

242.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$18.2K $18.2K

111.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$47.87 $47.87

33.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$51.9 $51.9

-0.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$79.4 $79.4

22.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$74.2 $74.2

98.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,486 $1,486

58.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,191 $1,191

32.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,547 $2,547

84.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,734 $1,734

56.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$4,221 $4,221

-5.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$3,168 $3,168

-16.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,160 $3,160

49.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.63

-0.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Brunswick, GA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,486 in Brunswick, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $75 in Brunswick, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $366 per month, with Brunswick, GA 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 Brunswick, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Brunswick, GA differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,373 including rent). Brunswick, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 49% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,486 in Brunswick, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,373 in Brunswick, GA – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Brunswick, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Brunswick, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.