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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,431 per month in Boston, MA vs $3,184 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,163 per month in Boston, MA vs $4,725 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,895 per month in Boston, MA vs $6,266 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Boston, MA costs about 39% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boston, MA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Boston, MA by 221%, Chicago, IL by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.45 $29.45

$20.26 $20.26

45.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$88.8 $88.8

37.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$13.16 $13.16

-10.49%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.77 $5.77

-12.13%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$2.63 $2.63

15.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.34 $2.34

1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$7.06 $7.06

16.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 $8.88

$9.18 $9.18

-3.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

White Bread (500g)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.05 $4.05

7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$5.69 $5.69

13.01%

Eggs

$5.84 $5.84

$4.85 $4.85

20.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.08 $15.08

-1.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$14.87 $14.87

-4.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.74 $18.74

$19.28 $19.28

-2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$5.68 $5.68

34.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.93 $1.93

-1.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$4.10 $4.10

32.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$5.11 $5.11

44.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.92 $2.92

31.51%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.77 $2.77

49.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.30 $2.30

27.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.04 $3.04

-4.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.46 $12.46

$15.93 $15.93

-21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.65 $16.65

$15.06 $15.06

10.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.53 $2.53

17.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.56 $5.56

$3.48 $3.48

59.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.53 $2.53

-4.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.1 $89.1

$74.8 $74.8

19.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.28 $3.28

-21.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.36 $1.36

26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.92 $27.92

$22.55 $22.55

23.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.22 $1.22

-9.02%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.14%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.88%

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

$263 $263

$188 $188

39.77%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$69.0 $69.0

-22.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.1 $81.1

$63.6 $63.6

27.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.9 $84.9

$63.4 $63.4

33.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.31 $42.31

$27.11 $27.11

56.07%

Cinema Ticket

$15.44 $15.44

$17.90 $17.90

-13.74%

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

$2,855 $2,855

$1,526 $1,526

87.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.5K $35.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

11.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.0 $73.0

$62.1 $62.1

17.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.91 $49.91

$56.4 $56.4

-11.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$101 $101

15.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$156 $156

5.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,343 $3,343

$2,342 $2,342

42.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,576 $2,576

$1,698 $1,698

51.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,999 $5,999

$4,576 $4,576

31.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,848 $3,848

$2,806 $2,806

37.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.5K $13.5K

$4,130 $4,130

227.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,353 $6,353

$2,740 $2,740

131.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,004 $6,004

$4,891 $4,891

22.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

6.38

-1.57%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,343 in Boston, MA versus $2,342 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Boston, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Boston, MA versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $511 vs $465 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Boston, MA costs about 39% more than Chicago, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,647 per month in Boston, MA and $4,776 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Boston, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Boston, MA and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,431 in Boston, MA and $3,184 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chicago, IL costs $3,184 versus $4,431 in Boston, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boston, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.