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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.2% more expensive than Barnstable, MA without rent, and 23.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 55.3% more expensive than Barnstable, MA without rent, and 34.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.61 $19.61
6.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.6 $64.6
55.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.9 $9.9
20.91%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.14 $4.14
34.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.16 $2.16
43.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.68 $1.68
44.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.92 $4.92
39.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.51 $6.51
29.80%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.95 $2.95
40.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.25 $4.25
29.88%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.82 $3.82
21.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$6.47 $6.47
121.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.57 $8.57
73.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$8.87 $8.87
118.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.7 $3.7
39.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.39 $1.39
23.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.79 $3.79
16.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.54 $3.54
27.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.24 $2.24
12.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.15 $2.15
27.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.87 $1.87
29.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.58 $1.58
70.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.38 $12.38
22.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.95 $11.95
37.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.33 $3.33
11.11%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.97 $2.97
12.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.72 $1.72
-17.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.62 $29.62
-14.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.7K $34.7K
-6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.2K $24.2K
8.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$102 $102
85.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.8 $53.8
18.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64.9 $64.9
0.40%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.62 $42.62
80.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.12 $14.12
5.74%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,733 $1,733
19.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29.4K $29.4K
33.07%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$47.86 $47.86
34.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.2 $34.2
53.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86 $86
10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$157 $157
-8.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,622 $1,622
46.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,326 $1,326
19.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,659 $2,659
79.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,233 $2,233
26.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,533 $2,533
41.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,605 $2,605
-4.39%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Barnstable, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Barnstable, MA: October 28, 2025

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