Brooklyn vs Champaign
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Brooklyn
Champaign
The Verdict
Champaign is 140.7% less expensive than Brooklyn overall. A household earning $75,000 in Brooklyn would need approximately $31,154 in Champaign to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $31,154 in Champaign.
Conversely, $75,000 in Champaign equals $180,556 in Brooklyn.
Living in Brooklyn vs Champaign
Housing Costs
Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Champaign's 83, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $215,000. The $565,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,100/mo in Champaign, a monthly difference of $1,800.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 98 in Champaign. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $466/month in Champaign. Champaign offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 106 in Champaign. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $424 in Champaign. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 90 in Champaign. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $56,100 in Champaign. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $69,259 respectively. Champaign residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,309/month in Champaign. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 242 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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