Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Andover, MA: $2,787 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Andover, MA
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Andover, MA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Andover, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,787

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Andover, MA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Andover, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,787 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Andover, MA $2,787

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,130 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Andover, MA $4,130

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,473 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Andover, MA $5,473

Chicago, IL costs about 10% more than Andover, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Andover, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Andover, MA by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.86 $20.86

-2.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$90.8 $90.8

-2.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.91 $11.91

7.89%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.35 $4.35

32.87%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.29 $3.29

-16.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.47 $1.47

53.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.79 $6.79

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.30 $7.30

26.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.53 $1.53

-17.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.91 $4.91

-27.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.16 $4.16

29.33%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.04 $5.04

-9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$22.79 $22.79

-40.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$13.01 $13.01

8.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$17.20 $17.20

5.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$7.15 $7.15

-27.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.11 $2.11

-6.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.54 $4.54

-14.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.40 $4.40

9.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.57 $1.57

78.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.73 $2.73

-2.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.11 $1.11

86.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.05 $3.05

-0.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$13.76 $13.76

1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$16.06 $16.06

-6.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.76 $1.76

49.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.05 $2.05

68.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.84 $1.84

32.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$64.4 $64.4

16.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$5.11 $5.11

-37.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.30 $2.30

-26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$48.65 $48.65

-48.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.15 $1.15

11.30%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$28.2K $28.2K

26.76%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.22%

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

$192 $192

$190 $190

0.94%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$54.1 $54.1

28.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$53.6 $53.6

15.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$41.72 $41.72

14.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$13.20 $13.20

35.08%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$818 $818

121.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$35.1K $35.1K

15.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$58.8 $58.8

12.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$38.10 $38.10

34.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$53.0 $53.0

95.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$79.6 $79.6

79.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,586 $1,586

59.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,436 $1,436

12.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,547 $2,547

89.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,384 $2,384

14.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,989 $2,989

39.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,534 $2,534

7.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$5,661 $5,661

-13.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.59

2.88%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Andover, MA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Andover, MA

$1.4K 51.5% 11.4% $185

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Andover, MA

$471 16.9% 7.2% $32

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Andover, MA

$322 11.6% 6.3% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Andover, MA

$298 10.7% 8% $26

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Andover, MA

$103 3.7% 36.9% $60

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Andover, MA

$88 3.2% 8.6% $8.3

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Andover, MA

$68 2.4% 18.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,586 in Andover, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Andover, MA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $91 in Andover, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $471 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Andover, MA

🕒 Local time

09:31 9:31 AM

10:31 10:31 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

33,475

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Andover, MA 1,360 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Andover, MA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Andover, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 10%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,180 in Andover, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Andover, MA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,586 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Andover, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,787 in Andover, MA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Andover, MA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.