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: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,401 in Brunswick, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,395 in Brunswick, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,388 in Brunswick, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 28% more expensive than in Brunswick, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Brunswick, GA 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$20.32 $20.32

2.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$75.0 $75.0

31.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.93 $9.93

19.84%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.80 $5.80

0.69%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.20 $2.20

39.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.87 $1.87

25.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.81 $4.81

42.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.83 $5.83

38.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.01 $1.01

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.06 $3.06

30.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.68 $2.68

108.96%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.41 $4.41

3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$10.58 $10.58

34.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.95 $11.95

24.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$12.40 $12.40

53.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.66 $5.66

-6.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.84 $1.84

-7.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.62 $4.62

-8.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.31 $3.31

32.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.50 $2.50

2.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.59 $2.59

8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.45 $1.45

70.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.70 $1.70

58.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$8.44 $8.44

77.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$20.26 $20.26

-27.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.03 $2.03

16.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.82 $2.82

26.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.03 $2.03

20.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.54 $3.54

-5.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.95 $1.95

-29.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$39.24 $39.24

-35.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

31.17%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.6K $24.6K

7.53%

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

$188 $188

$162 $162

16.45%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$58.9 $58.9

7.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$83.6 $83.6

-20.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$58.1 $58.1

30.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

$25.47 $25.47

-48.17%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.62 $13.62

8.66%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$600 $600

249.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$18.6K $18.6K

106.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$48.26 $48.26

34.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$51.7 $51.7

-0.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$80.0 $80.0

20.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$76.3 $76.3

91.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,441 $1,441

61.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,179 $1,179

33.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,499 $2,499

91.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,782 $1,782

52.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$4,309 $4,309

-6.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$3,135 $3,135

-14.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,120 $3,120

59.64%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Brunswick, GA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,441 in Brunswick, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 60% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Brunswick, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $367 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 28% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $2,401 including rent). Brunswick, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 60% 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,441 in Brunswick, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,401 in Brunswick, GA – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,401 in Brunswick, GA versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Brunswick, GA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Brunswick, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 28% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.