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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,354 in Barnstable, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,517 in Barnstable, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,680 in Barnstable, MA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 32% more expensive than in Barnstable, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Barnstable, MA 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$18.04 $18.04

10.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$75.8 $75.8

16.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$10.03 $10.03

31.90%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$3.94 $3.94

48.73%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.20 $2.20

18.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.65 $1.65

40.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$4.95 $4.95

42.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$6.94 $6.94

33.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.09 $1.09

22.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.94 $2.94

42.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.22 $4.22

30.33%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.17 $4.17

12.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$6.41 $6.41

129.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$8.61 $8.61

68.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$8.79 $8.79

124.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.11 $4.11

37.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.71 $1.71

15.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.51 $4.51

-10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.54 $3.54

43.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.15 $2.15

36.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.13 $2.13

37.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.98 $1.98

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.51 $2.51

24.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$12.47 $12.47

29.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.10 $13.10

15.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.15 $2.15

24.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.07 $4.07

-14.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.04 $2.04

24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$35.13 $35.13

116.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.51 $3.51

-9.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$3.56 $3.56

-61.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$26.33 $26.33

-13.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.95 $0.95

26.32%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$37.3K $37.3K

-0.75%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

10.41%

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

$190 $190

$98.1 $98.1

93.16%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$59.1 $59.1

15.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$64.8 $64.8

-5.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$41.02 $41.02

55.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$23.54 $23.54

18.10%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$13.81 $13.81

32.37%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,827 $1,827

-16.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

4.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$56.3 $56.3

13.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$37.67 $37.67

44.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$81.2 $81.2

23.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$99.5 $99.5

54.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,590 $1,590

52.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,269 $1,269

33.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,489 $2,489

84.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,148 $2,148

29.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,720 $2,720

53.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,405 $2,405

13.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$4,709 $4,709

1.46%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Barnstable, MA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,590 in Barnstable, 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 Barnstable, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $323 per month, with Barnstable, 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 Barnstable, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Barnstable, MA differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($3,106 vs $2,354 including rent). Barnstable, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,590 in Barnstable, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Barnstable, MA runs roughly 116% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,827 in Barnstable, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,354 in Barnstable, MA versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barnstable, MA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Barnstable, MA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Barnstable, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.