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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,664 in Brunswick, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,807 in Brunswick, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,950 in Brunswick, ME.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 16% more expensive than Brunswick, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Brunswick, ME 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$29.93 $29.93

-30.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$121 $121

-18.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.09 $12.09

-1.90%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.16 $6.16

-9.09%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.80 $2.80

9.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.40 $2.40

2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.85 $4.85

47.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.22 $8.22

-1.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.98 $0.98

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.22 $3.22

27.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.51 $3.51

59.83%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.50 $2.50

80.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.02 $13.02

9.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.58 $10.58

40.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.99 $15.99

20.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.46 $3.46

48.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.48 $1.48

19.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.43 $4.43

-0.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.76 $4.76

-4.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.31 $3.31

-23.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.45 $4.45

-38.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.52 $2.52

-3.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.87 $1.87

40.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.05 $9.05

64.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.11 $13.11

12.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.40 $1.40

75.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.85 $1.85

101.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.05 $2.05

20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.96 $1.96

62.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.43 $29.43

-15.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.84 $0.84

26.19%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.8K $29.8K

7.29%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$37.3K $37.3K

-30.16%

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

$185 $185

$158 $158

17.08%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$54.4 $54.4

13.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$80.9 $80.9

-17.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.30 $43.30

73.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$14.69 $14.69

0.14%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,293 $1,293

56.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

67.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$50.6 $50.6

27.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$76.1 $76.1

-31.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$124 $124

-21.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$134 $134

10.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,605 $1,605

44.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,379 $1,379

15.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,493 $2,493

84.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,765 $1,765

57.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,810 $2,810

39.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,252 $2,252

16.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,700 $4,700

11.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.71

-1.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Brunswick, ME: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,605 in Brunswick, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 11% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $121 in Brunswick, ME. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $362, with Brunswick, ME cheaper for home cooking.

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, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brunswick, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 11% 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,605 in Brunswick, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,293 in Brunswick, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brunswick, ME – a meal for two runs $121 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Brunswick, ME 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.

Expats usually find Brunswick, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.