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 5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 44.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Cambridge, MA is 2.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.94 $16.94

$20.53 $20.53

-17.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.5 $98.5

$102 $102

-3.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$12.03 $12.03

1.58%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.62 $5.62

-3.74%

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

$3.07 $3.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.42 $2.42

-2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.84 $7.84

$6.98 $6.98

12.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$8.10 $8.10

-2.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.08 $1.08

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.95 $3.95

2.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$5.52 $5.52

20.83%

Eggs

$4.62 $4.62

$4.55 $4.55

1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$14.58 $14.58

4.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.78 $13.78

$14.91 $14.91

-7.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.88 $20.88

$18.83 $18.83

10.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.34 $5.34

30.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.76 $1.76

10.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.39 $4.39

47.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$4.37 $4.37

48.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.55 $2.55

26.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.78 $2.78

25.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.46 $2.46

-0.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.66 $2.66

-1.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$14.74 $14.74

-5.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 $17.52

$15.17 $15.17

15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.45 $2.45

-27.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.68 $3.68

49.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.52 $2.52

-4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 $89.3

$74.5 $74.5

19.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.29 $3.29

-20.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.43 $1.43

24.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

$24.86 $24.86

10.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.09 $1.09

-18.35%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$31.3K $31.3K

-7.42%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-6.98%

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

$157 $157

$187 $187

-15.99%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$62.4 $62.4

-14.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.8 $56.8

$67.1 $67.1

-15.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 $100

$75.2 $75.2

33.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.39 $30.39

$13.17 $13.17

130.75%

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 $15.71

$15.21 $15.21

3.29%

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

$2,784 $2,784

$2,039 $2,039

36.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.5K $27.5K

$39.3K $39.3K

-30.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 $65.6

$64.0 $64.0

2.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.23 $44.23

$50.6 $50.6

-12.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$95.4 $95.4

5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 $2,833

$2,355 $2,355

20.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 $2,865

$1,613 $1,613

77.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,023 $5,023

$4,728 $4,728

6.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,536 $3,536

$2,754 $2,754

28.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,063 $5,063

$3,803 $3,803

33.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,020 $5,020

$2,580 $2,580

94.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,319 $6,319

$4,738 $4,738

33.38%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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