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

🙂 Solo nomad: Ashland, MA is 26.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ashland, MA is 11.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.84 $24.84
$20.82 $20.82
19.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.1 $98.1
$100 $100
-2.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$11.97 $11.97
-1.59%
Cappuccino
$4.3 $4.3
$5.56 $5.56
-22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.11 $3.11
-10.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.1 $6.1
$6.86 $6.86
-11.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$8.45 $8.45
-15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.15 $4.15
-19.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$5.52 $5.52
-4.53%
Eggs
$4.73 $4.73
$4.65 $4.65
1.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.4 $19.4
$14.33 $14.33
35.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.94 $12.94
$14.88 $14.88
-13.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.37 $14.37
$19.34 $19.34
-25.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$5.17 $5.17
-27.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.41 $4.41
-10.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$4.51 $4.51
-8.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.53 $2.53
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.74 $2.74
-6.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.43 $2.43
-23.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.7 $2.7
-41.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.05 $13.05
$15.19 $15.19
-14.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.82 $11.82
$16.42 $16.42
-28.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.7 $3.7
-34.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.34 $3.34
-11.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.42 $1.42
54.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.14 $29.14
$25.42 $25.42
14.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-14.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$188 $188
2.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 $53.2
$63.7 $63.7
-16.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.7 $66.7
$65.2 $65.2
2.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.31 $43.31
$76.7 $76.7
-43.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.94 $14.94
$14.93 $14.93
0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$2,063 $2,063
-37.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30K $30K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.54 $47.54
$64.3 $64.3
-26.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.98 $33.98
$52.4 $52.4
-35.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.4 $55.4
$95.2 $95.2
-41.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$145 $145
1.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,606 $1,606
$2,378 $2,378
-32.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 $1,330
$1,584 $1,584
-16.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,614 $2,614
$4,763 $4,763
-45.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,266 $2,266
$2,815 $2,815
-19.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,666 $2,666
$3,588 $3,588
-25.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,652 $2,652
$2,490 $2,490
6.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashland, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
6.6
-3.33%

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

Last update for Ashland, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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