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

😐 Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 11.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Boston, MA is 12.5% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.58 $24.58

$20.82 $20.82

18.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$130 $130

$100 $100

29.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 $11.32

$11.97 $11.97

-5.43%

Cappuccino

$5.5 $5.5

$5.56 $5.56

-1.08%

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

$3.1 $3.1

$3.11 $3.11

-0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.42 $2.42

0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.86 $6.86

14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$8.45 $8.45

4.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.04 $1.04

21.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.15 $4.15

2.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$5.52 $5.52

18.66%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$4.65 $4.65

0.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.61 $16.61

$14.33 $14.33

15.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$14.88 $14.88

-7.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.3 $20.3

$19.34 $19.34

4.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.17 $5.17

13.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.71 $1.71

23.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$4.41 $4.41

45.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.98 $7.98

$4.51 $4.51

76.94%

Potato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.53 $2.53

75.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.74 $2.74

34.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.43 $2.43

13.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.7 $2.7

-5.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.64 $13.64

$15.19 $15.19

-10.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.13 $17.13

$16.42 $16.42

4.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.35 $2.35

24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.7 $3.7

48.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.53 $2.53

-7.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.9 $88.9

$74.1 $74.1

19.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.34 $3.34

-21.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.42 $1.42

23.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.96 $27.96

$25.42 $25.42

9.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-5.79%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.36%

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

$191 $191

$188 $188

1.32%

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

$58.1 $58.1

$63.7 $63.7

-8.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.9 $77.9

$65.2 $65.2

19.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80 $80

$76.7 $76.7

4.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.42 $30.42

$13.03 $13.03

133.46%

Cinema Ticket

$15.37 $15.37

$14.93 $14.93

2.95%

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

$2,755 $2,755

$2,063 $2,063

33.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.2K $27.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-30.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 $67.8

$64.3 $64.3

5.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.6 $44.6

$52.4 $52.4

-14.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

8.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$145 $145

3.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,432 $3,432

$2,378 $2,378

44.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$1,584 $1,584

64.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,218 $6,218

$4,763 $4,763

30.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,949 $3,949

$2,815 $2,815

40.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,631 $9,631

$3,588 $3,588

168.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,118 $6,118

$2,490 $2,490

145.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,166 $6,166

$5,275 $5,275

16.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.6

-2.58%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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