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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,533 in Ashland, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,762 in Ashland, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,991 in Ashland, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Ashland, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Ashland, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Ashland, MA by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.83 $19.83

2.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$74.9 $74.9

18.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$13.23 $13.23

-0.53%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.11 $5.11

12.92%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.85 $2.85

-7.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.45 $2.45

-4.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.90 $5.90

19.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.67 $8.67

5.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.25 $1.25

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.71 $4.71

-14.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.45 $4.45

27.87%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$6.15 $6.15

-21.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.64 $10.64

41.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$10.54 $10.54

41.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$20.43 $20.43

-5.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.89 $5.89

-3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.40 $3.40

-43.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.26 $3.26

25.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.14 $3.14

62.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.22 $2.22

31.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.39 $2.39

15.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.68 $2.68

-14.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.82 $2.82

7.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$13.09 $13.09

21.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.72 $15.72

-4.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.90 $1.90

33.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.85 $2.85

22.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$6.04 $6.04

-45.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.66 $1.66

-18.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$27.74 $27.74

-18.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.90 $0.90

35.56%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.3K $35.3K

2.18%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.83%

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

$188 $188

$181 $181

3.91%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$37.06 $37.06

86.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$52.8 $52.8

20.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$41.36 $41.36

53.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.84 $13.84

29.34%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,109 $2,109

-27.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$21.1K $21.1K

50.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$38.10 $38.10

62.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$24.32 $24.32

131.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$91.8 $91.8

9.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$114 $114

36.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,862 $1,862

25.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,313 $1,313

29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,757 $2,757

65.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,143 $2,143

30.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,731 $2,731

51.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,392 $2,392

14.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.04

5.63%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ashland, MA: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,862 in Ashland, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Ashland, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $429 – making Ashland, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ashland, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Ashland, MA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,800 in Ashland, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ashland, MA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,533 in Ashland, MA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,109 in Ashland, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,533 in Ashland, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ashland, MA costs $2,533 versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ashland, MA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.