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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,033 in Amherst, MA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,694 in Amherst, MA versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,355 in Amherst, MA versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Amherst, MA costs roughly 1% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 126% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$20.91 $20.91

-2.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 $70.1

$98.1 $98.1

-28.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 $9.37

$11.86 $11.86

-20.99%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.60 $5.60

-3.39%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.07 $3.07

-0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.47 $2.47

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$7.14 $7.14

11.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 $7.36

$8.08 $8.08

-8.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.05 $1.05

24.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.11 $4.11

-8.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$5.61 $5.61

-63.81%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$4.51 $4.51

0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$14.27 $14.27

-2.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$14.89 $14.89

-65.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$19.19 $19.19

-3.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.14 $5.14

3.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.77 $1.77

-14.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$4.39 $4.39

-17.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.56 $4.56

8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.54 $2.54

-59.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.75 $2.75

-64.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.42 $2.42

2.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.62 $2.62

-24.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 $10.42

$14.92 $14.92

-30.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.70 $13.70

$14.80 $14.80

-7.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.46 $2.46

20.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.73 $3.73

-7.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.48 $2.48

-21.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.53 $27.53

$75.4 $75.4

-63.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.18 $3.18

-17.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.87 $27.87

$24.94 $24.94

11.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.06 $1.06

-16.98%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-4.79%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-5.40%

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

$197 $197

$185 $185

6.50%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$61.7 $61.7

-5.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$66.9 $66.9

16.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 $119

$75.2 $75.2

58.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.09 $7.09

$13.08 $13.08

-45.80%

Cinema Ticket

$10.63 $10.63

$14.71 $14.71

-27.74%

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

$2,753 $2,753

$2,020 $2,020

36.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$39.4K $39.4K

-29.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.18 $40.18

$64.6 $64.6

-37.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.51 $44.51

$52.5 $52.5

-15.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 $85.5

$97.8 $97.8

-12.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$148 $148

-1.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,313 $2,313

-20.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,590 $1,590

0.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,823 $4,823

$4,608 $4,608

4.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,473 $3,473

$2,779 $2,779

24.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,019 $4,019

$3,922 $3,922

2.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,027 $4,027

$2,613 $2,613

54.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,837 $4,837

$5,217 $5,217

-7.28%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,829 in Amherst, MA and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 8% 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: $70.0 in Amherst, MA vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $447 per month, with Amherst, MA cheaper across the board.

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

Amherst, MA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 8% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,829 in Amherst, MA versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,753 in Amherst, MA versus $2,020 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

For families, Amherst, MA 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.

Safety-wise, Amherst, MA and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Amherst, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.