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: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,447 in Barnstable, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,543 in Barnstable, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,639 in Barnstable, MA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than in Barnstable, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Barnstable, MA 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.64 $19.64

5.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$64.3 $64.3

53.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.03 $10.03

18.64%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$3.97 $3.97

47.10%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.05 $2.05

49.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.10 $5.10

34.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.37 $6.37

26.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.93 $0.93

12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.90 $2.90

37.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.14 $4.14

35.27%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.66 $3.66

24.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$6.73 $6.73

111.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.81 $8.81

69.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$8.81 $8.81

116.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.89 $3.89

36.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.45 $1.45

17.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.96 $3.96

7.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.44 $3.44

27.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.22 $2.22

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.16 $2.16

29.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.88 $1.88

31.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.57 $1.57

71.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.46 $12.46

19.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$12.97 $12.97

13.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.77 $1.77

33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.32 $3.32

7.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.02 $2.02

20.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.02 $3.02

10.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.77 $1.77

-22.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$28.84 $28.84

-12.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$34.7K $34.7K

-6.94%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

10.74%

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

$188 $188

$101 $101

85.80%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$53.6 $53.6

18.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$64.8 $64.8

2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.54 $43.54

73.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.24 $14.24

3.93%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,695 $1,695

23.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$30.1K $30.1K

28.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$46.75 $46.75

38.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$34.18 $34.18

50.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$85.6 $85.6

12.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$159 $159

-8.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,624 $1,624

43.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,374 $1,374

14.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,657 $2,657

79.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,236 $2,236

21.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,688 $2,688

49.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,367 $2,367

13.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Barnstable, MA: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,624 in Barnstable, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $64.0 in Barnstable, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $300 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 26% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $2,447 including rent). Barnstable, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,626 in Chicago, IL and $3,671 in Barnstable, MA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,624 in Barnstable, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,447 in Barnstable, MA – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barnstable, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.