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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10% more expensive than Acton, MA without rent, and 12.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.8% more expensive than Acton, MA without rent, and 15.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.08 $19.08

9.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$98.8 $98.8

1.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.35 $13.35

-10.34%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.62 $4.62

20.35%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.8 $2.8

11.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.17 $2.17

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.06 $6.06

13.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.42 $7.42

13.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.21 $1.21

-14.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.3 $3.3

25.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.17 $3.17

74.13%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.66 $6.66

-30.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.79 $10.79

32.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.45 $9.45

57.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.39 $21.39

-9.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.3 $5.3

-2.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.17 $2.17

-21.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.67 $5.67

-22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.74 $5.74

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.36 $4.36

-41.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.35 $4.35

-37.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.17 $3.17

-23.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.8 $10.8

40.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.82 $14.82

10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.14 $2.14

9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.49 $1.49

148.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.94 $3.94

-15.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.76 $1.76

-19.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.52 $29.52

-13.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.65%

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

$188 $188

$313 $313

-39.93%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$69.1 $69.1

-7.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.6 $64.6

1.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$24.65 $24.65

211.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.84 $12.84

16.28%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,502 $1,502

37.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

69.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$52.7 $52.7

22.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$32.4 $32.4

61.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$65.7 $65.7

44.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$82.5 $82.5

75.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,528 $3,528

-32.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,366 $1,366

16.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,582 $2,582

84.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,225 $4,225

-33.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,749 $2,749

30.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,598 $2,598

-4.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,259 $6,259

-15.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Acton, MA: October 29, 2025

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