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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cambridge, MA is 11.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 41.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Cambridge, MA is 9.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.93 $16.93

$20.82 $20.82

-18.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.97 $11.97

-1.17%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$5.56 $5.56

0.18%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$3.11 $3.11

-2.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.86 $6.86

15.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.06 $8.06

$8.45 $8.45

-4.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.04 $1.04

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.15 $4.15

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.52 $5.52

18.12%

Eggs

$4.79 $4.79

$4.65 $4.65

3.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.33 $14.33

5.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.38 $13.38

$14.88 $14.88

-10.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.7 $20.7

$19.34 $19.34

7.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.17 $5.17

31.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.71 $1.71

13.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.3 $6.3

$4.41 $4.41

42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$4.51 $4.51

40.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.53 $2.53

28.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.74 $2.74

28.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.43 $2.43

-2.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.6 $2.6

$2.7 $2.7

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.74 $13.74

$15.19 $15.19

-9.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.93 $14.93

$16.42 $16.42

-9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 $5.72

$3.7 $3.7

54.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.4 $2.4

$2.53 $2.53

-5.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.4 $89.4

$74.1 $74.1

20.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.34 $3.34

-23.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.42 $1.42

21.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.31 $28.31

$25.42 $25.42

11.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.85%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.13%

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

$160 $160

$188 $188

-15.02%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$63.7 $63.7

-17.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.3 $55.3

$65.2 $65.2

-15.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$101 $101

$76.7 $76.7

31.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.36 $30.36

$13.03 $13.03

133.00%

Cinema Ticket

$15.32 $15.32

$14.93 $14.93

2.61%

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

$2,793 $2,793

$2,063 $2,063

35.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.7K $27.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-29.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$64.3 $64.3

4.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.67 $44.67

$52.4 $52.4

-14.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

6.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$145 $145

2.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,818 $2,818

$2,378 $2,378

18.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 $2,865

$1,584 $1,584

80.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,085 $5,085

$4,763 $4,763

6.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,815 $2,815

24.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,887 $4,887

$3,588 $3,588

36.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,940 $4,940

$2,490 $2,490

98.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,088 $6,088

$5,275 $5,275

15.42%

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 Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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