Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Trumbull, CT and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $4,258 in Trumbull, CT, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Trumbull, CT outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

204

Cost of Living Index in Trumbull, CT
Learn more

Trumbull, CT Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Trumbull, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$4,258

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $4,258 per month in Trumbull, CT vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Trumbull, CT $4,258
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $5,306 per month in Trumbull, CT vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Trumbull, CT $5,306
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $6,354 per month in Trumbull, CT vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Trumbull, CT $6,354
Chicago, IL $6,115

Trumbull, CT costs about 36% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Trumbull, CT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Trumbull, CT by 214%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$20.65 $20.65

-2.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 $60.7

$90.2 $90.2

-32.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.94 $12.94

7.88%

Cappuccino

$6.44 $6.44

$5.60 $5.60

15.00%

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

$3.86 $3.86

$2.64 $2.64

46.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.27 $2.27

28.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.98 $6.98

15.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$8.83 $8.83

11.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.27 $1.27

6.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.80 $3.80

18.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.30 $5.30

-19.25%

Eggs

$6.09 $6.09

$4.76 $4.76

27.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 $9.08

$13.96 $13.96

-34.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$14.61 $14.61

18.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.48 $15.48

$18.77 $18.77

-17.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.19 $5.19

28.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.98 $1.98

13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$3.93 $3.93

61.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.96 $4.96

39.72%

Potato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.76 $2.76

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.76 $2.76

62.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.22 $2.22

30.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.98 $2.98

-14.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.24 $18.24

$14.02 $14.02

30.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$15.28 $15.28

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.58 $2.58

19.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.50 $3.50

10.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.34 $3.34

-8.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.43 $1.43

51.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.12 $42.12

$24.32 $24.32

73.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.26 $1.26

-10.32%

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

$32.0K $32.0K

$35.0K $35.0K

-8.50%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

0.03%

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

$218 $218

$193 $193

13.16%

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

$75.5 $75.5

$68.3 $68.3

10.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$61.3 $61.3

5.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$20.89 $20.89

$17.74 $17.74

17.76%

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

$3,392 $3,392

$1,652 $1,652

105.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.2K $60.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

93.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 $76.3

$66.1 $66.1

15.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$51.2 $51.2

-0.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$100 $100

19.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$141 $141

-3.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,735 $2,735

$2,446 $2,446

11.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,820 $2,820

$1,678 $1,678

68.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,226 $3,226

$4,717 $4,717

-31.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,274 $3,274

$2,795 $2,795

17.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,113 $6,113

$4,866 $4,866

25.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.67

6.81

-46.11%

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

Last update for Trumbull, CT: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Trumbull, CT

$2.8K 66.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 40.5% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Trumbull, CT

$484 11.4%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 7.2% $35

Eating Out

Trumbull, CT

$368 8.6%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 6.6% $24

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Trumbull, CT

$358 8.4%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 10.1% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Trumbull, CT

$172 4%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 6.3% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Trumbull, CT

$42 * 1%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 115% $48

Getting Around

Trumbull, CT

$14 * 0.3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 587% $81

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,735 in Trumbull, CT versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. 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 Trumbull, CT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Trumbull, CT versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $484 in Trumbull, CT vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Trumbull, CT

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

04:08 4:08 AM

03:08 3:08 AM

1 h behind Trumbull, CT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

34,963

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Trumbull, CT Chicago, IL 1,200 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Trumbull, CT
Chicago, IL

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

Trumbull, CT vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,258 in Trumbull, CT, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 36% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,388 per month in Trumbull, CT and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Trumbull, CT and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Trumbull, CT, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,258 in Trumbull, CT and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $4,258 in Trumbull, CT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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