Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Britain, CT

For one person, living is cheaper in New Britain, CT: $2,582 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in New Britain, CT
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New Britain, CT Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

New Britain, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,582

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in New Britain, CT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in New Britain, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,582 in New Britain, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
New Britain, CT $2,582

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,955 in New Britain, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
New Britain, CT $3,955

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,329 in New Britain, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
New Britain, CT $5,329

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than New Britain, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and New Britain, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, New Britain, CT by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$16.25 $16.25

25.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$91.2 $91.2

-2.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$14.72 $14.72

-12.70%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.57 $5.57

3.77%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.91 $2.91

-5.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.78 $2.78

-18.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$4.94 $4.94

39.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.82 $7.82

18.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.07 $1.07

17.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.92 $3.92

-9.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.36 $5.36

0.37%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.70 $4.70

-3.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$11.10 $11.10

22.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$14.37 $14.37

-2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$17.59 $17.59

2.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$6.87 $6.87

-24.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.71 $1.71

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.59 $6.59

-41.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.55 $5.55

-12.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.77 $2.77

1.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.32 $4.32

-38.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.29 $2.29

-9.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$0.98 $0.98

209.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$13.48 $13.48

3.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.06 $14.06

7.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.08 $2.08

26.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.99 $3.99

-13.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.91 $1.91

27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$53.8 $53.8

39.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.96 $3.96

-19.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.51 $2.51

-32.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$39.83 $39.83

-37.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.09 $1.09

17.43%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.9K $27.9K

28.14%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.9K $26.9K

-0.50%

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

$192 $192

$324 $324

-40.71%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$104 $104

-33.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$54.8 $54.8

13.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$40.06 $40.06

19.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.16 $14.16

25.92%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$984 $984

84.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$44.9K $44.9K

-9.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$56.0 $56.0

18.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$37.87 $37.87

35.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$79.9 $79.9

29.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$98.6 $98.6

44.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,112 $1,112

127.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,095 $1,095

48.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,572 $2,572

87.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,107 $2,107

29.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,695 $2,695

54.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,486 $2,486

9.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,915 $3,915

25.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

35.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for New Britain, CT: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

New Britain, CT

$1.1K 42.4% 32.5% $526

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

New Britain, CT

$431 16.7% 1.8% $8

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

New Britain, CT

$304 11.8% 11.6% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

New Britain, CT

$483 18.7% 49.1% $159

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

New Britain, CT

$123 4.8% 25.1% $41

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

New Britain, CT

$78 3% 19.4% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

New Britain, CT

$68 2.7% 18% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,112 in New Britain, CT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $91 in New Britain, CT. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Chicago, IL vs $431 in New Britain, CT – so New Britain, CT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 New Britain, CT

🕒 Local time

03:16 3:16 AM

04:16 4:16 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

73,206

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL New Britain, CT 1,230 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
New Britain, CT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 New Britain, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,582 in New Britain, CT – New Britain, CT comes out roughly 16% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,873 in New Britain, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in New Britain, CT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,112 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $1,815 per month in Chicago, IL and $984 in New Britain, CT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,582 in New Britain, CT. That makes New Britain, CT about 16% cheaper.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,582 in New Britain, CT. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward New Britain, CT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with New Britain, CT. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.