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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $3,006 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $4,373 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $5,739 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 4% more expensive than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Amherst, MA 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.78 $19.78

0.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$76.3 $76.3

15.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.48 $9.48

36.50%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.70 $4.70

17.87%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.62 $2.62

4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.98 $1.98

19.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.94 $5.94

19.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$10.69 $10.69

-18.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.02 $1.02

31.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.20 $3.20

30.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.33 $5.33

7.50%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.54 $4.54

7.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$16.58 $16.58

-10.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.78 $15.78

-5.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$18.70 $18.70

4.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.88 $4.88

14.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.45 $1.45

32.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.40 $3.40

22.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.58 $4.58

6.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.27 $3.27

-13.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.52 $3.52

-20.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.31 $2.31

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.04 $2.04

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$10.67 $10.67

51.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$11.88 $11.88

24.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.43 $3.43

-2.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.29 $1.29

97.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$27.88 $27.88

171.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.58 $3.58

-7.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.35 $1.35

0.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$30.36 $30.36

-17.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.97 $0.97

20.62%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.2K $36.2K

-0.64%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.75%

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

$191 $191

$214 $214

-10.76%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$57.8 $57.8

17.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$84.6 $84.6

-27.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$120 $120

-47.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$6.93 $6.93

291.63%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$10.30 $10.30

74.95%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,516 $1,516

0.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$16.9K $16.9K

85.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$44.90 $44.90

41.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$39.65 $39.65

39.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$91.0 $91.0

10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$110 $110

39.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,806 $1,806

33.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,638 $1,638

0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$3,877 $3,877

18.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,648 $2,648

4.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$4,021 $4,021

0.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$4,083 $4,083

-32.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,734 $4,734

1.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.1

4.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,806 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 1% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Amherst, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $428 per month, with Amherst, MA 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

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

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,806 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,522 in Chicago, IL versus $1,516 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amherst, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Amherst, MA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.