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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,426 in Cambridge, MA versus $3,158 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,767 in Cambridge, MA versus $4,702 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,108 in Cambridge, MA versus $6,246 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Cambridge, MA is roughly 40% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cambridge, MA 228% above, Chicago, IL 134% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.45 $19.45

$20.39 $20.39

-4.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$91.6 $91.6

8.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.13 $12.13

$12.78 $12.78

-5.09%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.61 $5.61

-4.28%

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

$3.18 $3.18

$2.64 $2.64

20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.35 $2.35

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.15 $7.15

14.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 $7.96

$9.17 $9.17

-13.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.27 $1.27

-10.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.16 $4.16

10.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.81 $5.81

22.55%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$4.89 $4.89

0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.71 $15.71

$15.05 $15.05

4.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.22 $14.22

$14.72 $14.72

-3.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 $19.16

$19.37 $19.37

-1.08%

Apples (1kg)

$7.07 $7.07

$5.62 $5.62

25.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.99 $1.99

-16.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.14 $4.14

34.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$5.04 $5.04

27.58%

Potato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.96 $2.96

48.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.83 $2.83

28.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.22 $2.22

30.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.14 $3.14

-8.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.56 $12.56

$16.17 $16.17

-22.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.31 $16.31

$14.87 $14.87

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.53 $2.53

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 $5.59

$3.45 $3.45

62.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.46 $2.46

-3.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.8 $88.8

$73.9 $73.9

20.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.28 $3.28

-38.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.37 $1.37

16.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.20 $11.20

$25.06 $25.06

-55.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.16 $1.16

-10.34%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.6K $36.6K

-0.79%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.08%

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

$228 $228

$190 $190

19.92%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$69.5 $69.5

-23.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.0 $79.0

$59.9 $59.9

31.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 $74.0

$63.4 $63.4

16.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.18 $30.18

$27.95 $27.95

7.98%

Cinema Ticket

$14.96 $14.96

$17.65 $17.65

-15.24%

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

$2,898 $2,898

$1,550 $1,550

86.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.1K $36.1K

$31.6K $31.6K

14.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.7 $75.7

$62.3 $62.3

21.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 $53.0

$56.0 $56.0

-5.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$103 $103

-0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$157 $157

-9.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,371 $3,371

$2,382 $2,382

41.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,837 $2,837

$1,699 $1,699

67.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,252 $5,252

$4,665 $4,665

12.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,468 $3,468

$2,785 $2,785

24.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,037 $5,037

$4,170 $4,170

20.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,987 $4,987

$2,677 $2,677

86.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,278 $6,278

$5,105 $5,105

22.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

6.38

-2.35%

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

Last update for Cambridge, MA: September 28, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,371 in Cambridge, MA and $2,382 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cambridge, MA pays 23% 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: $99.0 in Cambridge, MA vs $92.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $501 vs $466 per month, with Chicago, IL 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

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

Chicago, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Cambridge, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chicago, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Cambridge, MA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,371 in Cambridge, MA versus $2,382 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Cambridge, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $99.0 in Cambridge, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chicago, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,158 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chicago, IL hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Cambridge, 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 Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Cambridge, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.