Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Amherst, MA is 21% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Amherst, MA is 4.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$20.82 $20.82

-4.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 $69.5

$100 $100

-30.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.76 $9.76

$11.97 $11.97

-18.46%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$5.56 $5.56

-3.78%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.11 $3.11

-5.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.42 $2.42

-0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.9 $7.9

$6.86 $6.86

15.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.34 $7.34

$8.45 $8.45

-13.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.04 $1.04

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.6 $3.6

$4.15 $4.15

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$5.52 $5.52

-63.04%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.65 $4.65

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14 $14

$14.33 $14.33

-2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$14.88 $14.88

-65.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.06 $19.06

$19.34 $19.34

-1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.17 $5.17

2.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.71 $1.71

-11.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$4.41 $4.41

-18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.51 $4.51

11.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.53 $2.53

-61.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.74 $2.74

-62.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.43 $2.43

3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.7 $2.7

-26.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.67 $10.67

$15.19 $15.19

-29.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$16.42 $16.42

-7.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.35 $2.35

22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.7 $3.7

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.44 $28.44

$74.1 $74.1

-61.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.34 $3.34

-23.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.31 $28.31

$25.42 $25.42

11.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.08 $1.08

-13.89%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.82%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.56%

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

$196 $196

$188 $188

4.40%

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

$57.5 $57.5

$63.7 $63.7

-9.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.7 $78.7

$65.2 $65.2

20.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

$76.7 $76.7

56.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.93 $6.93

$13.03 $13.03

-46.82%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 $10.94

$14.93 $14.93

-26.72%

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

$2,783 $2,783

$2,063 $2,063

34.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.5K $27.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-29.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.39 $39.39

$64.3 $64.3

-38.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.35 $45.35

$52.4 $52.4

-13.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$95.2 $95.2

-11.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$145 $145

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 $1,845

$2,378 $2,378

-22.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$1,584 $1,584

2.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,788 $4,788

$4,763 $4,763

0.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,527 $3,527

$2,815 $2,815

25.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,028 $4,028

$3,588 $3,588

12.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,015 $4,015

$2,490 $2,490

61.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,895 $4,895

$5,275 $5,275

-7.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.22

6.6

-5.76%

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

Last update for Amherst, MA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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