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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 36.7% more expensive than Ashland, MA without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.4% more expensive than Ashland, MA without rent, and 20.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.84 $24.84

-16.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$98.1 $98.1

2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.78 $11.78

1.61%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.3 $4.3

29.30%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.79 $2.79

11.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.01 $2.01

20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.1 $6.1

12.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.15 $7.15

18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.34 $3.34

24.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.27 $5.27

4.74%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.73 $4.73

-1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$19.4 $19.4

-26.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.94 $12.94

14.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.37 $14.37

34.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.77 $3.77

37.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.39 $1.39

23.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.94 $3.94

11.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.14 $4.14

8.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.22 $3.22

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.55 $2.55

7.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.87 $1.87

29.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.59 $1.59

69.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.05 $13.05

16.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.82 $11.82

38.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.44 $2.44

51.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.96 $2.96

12.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.2 $2.2

-35.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.14 $29.14

-12.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.6K $27.6K

17.29%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.44%

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

$188 $188

$194 $194

-2.80%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.2 $53.2

19.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.7 $66.7

-2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.31 $43.31

77.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.94 $14.94

-0.07%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,290 $1,290

59.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30K $30K

30.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$47.54 $47.54

35.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.98 $33.98

54.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$55.4 $55.4

71.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$147 $147

-1.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,606 $1,606

48.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,330 $1,330

19.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,614 $2,614

82.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,266 $2,266

24.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,666 $2,666

34.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,652 $2,652

-6.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.38

3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ashland, MA: October 28, 2025

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