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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26.6% more expensive than Amherst, MA without rent, and 1.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.1% more expensive than Amherst, MA without rent, and 3.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.88 $19.88

4.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69.5 $69.5

44.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.76 $9.76

22.64%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.35 $5.35

3.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.93 $2.93

6.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.41 $2.41

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.9 $7.9

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.34 $7.34

15.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.32 $1.32

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.6 $3.6

15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.04 $2.04

170.59%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.76 $4.76

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14 $14

2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$5.07 $5.07

193.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.06 $19.06

1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.31 $5.31

-2.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.51 $1.51

13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.6 $3.6

22.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.05 $5.05

-10.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.98 $0.98

158.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.02 $1.02

168.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.52 $2.52

-3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.99 $1.99

35.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.67 $10.67

42.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.14 $15.14

8.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.87 $2.87

-18.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.58 $3.58

3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$28.44 $28.44

160.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.55 $2.55

30.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.37 $1.37

3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.31 $28.31

-10.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.93 $0.93

16.13%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.67%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.63%

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

$188 $188

$196 $196

-4.22%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$57.5 $57.5

10.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$78.7 $78.7

-17.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$120 $120

-35.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$6.93 $6.93

88.02%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.94 $10.94

36.47%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,783 $2,783

-25.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.5K $27.5K

42.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$39.39 $39.39

63.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.35 $45.35

15.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$83.9 $83.9

13.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$142 $142

1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,845 $1,845

28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,624 $1,624

-2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,788 $4,788

-0.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,527 $3,527

-20.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,028 $4,028

-10.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,015 $4,015

-37.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,895 $4,895

7.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.22

6.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Amherst, MA: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States