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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,726 in Brunswick, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $4,030 in Brunswick, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $5,334 in Brunswick, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 14% more expensive than in Brunswick, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Brunswick, GA 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$19.76 $19.76

0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$140 $140

-36.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.99 $11.99

10.34%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.83 $5.83

0.51%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.99 $2.99

-12.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.30 $2.30

0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.64 $6.64

5.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.96 $7.96

16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.11 $1.11

20.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.77 $4.77

15.30%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.46 $5.46

-13.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$22.96 $22.96

-35.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$14.77 $14.77

-1.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$20.64 $20.64

-4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$8.22 $8.22

-31.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.86 $1.86

5.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.12 $5.12

-21.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$7.10 $7.10

-28.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.97 $4.97

-40.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.84 $3.84

-23.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.81 $2.81

-18.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.36 $3.36

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.91 $9.91

63.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$20.13 $20.13

-24.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.86 $2.86

-6.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.03 $3.03

14.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.07 $3.07

2.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.21 $1.21

13.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$31.88 $31.88

-28.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.88 $0.88

36.36%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$30.7K $30.7K

20.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.67%

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

$190 $190

$229 $229

-17.34%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$67.8 $67.8

0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$84.9 $84.9

-28.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$56.5 $56.5

12.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$24.74 $24.74

12.37%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$13.79 $13.79

32.56%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$587 $587

159.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$18.6K $18.6K

72.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$78.6 $78.6

-18.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$45.33 $45.33

20.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$113 $113

-10.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$76.0 $76.0

101.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,479 $1,479

63.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,179 $1,179

43.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,543 $2,543

80.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,716 $1,716

62.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$4,206 $4,206

-0.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$3,187 $3,187

-14.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,150 $3,150

51.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Brunswick, GA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,479 in Brunswick, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 52% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $140 in Brunswick, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $542 per month, with Chicago, IL 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 14% in total monthly costs ($3,106 vs $2,726 including rent). Brunswick, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,479 in Brunswick, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,726 in Brunswick, GA – a 14% 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 14% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.