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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,442 in Barnstable, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,554 in Barnstable, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,666 in Barnstable, MA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than Barnstable, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Barnstable, MA 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$20.40 $20.40

1.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65.2 $65.2

54.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.83 $9.83

20.65%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.10 $4.10

35.12%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.05 $2.05

49.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.74 $1.74

42.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.03 $5.03

37.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.66 $6.66

22.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.96 $0.96

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.90 $2.90

34.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.23 $4.23

28.13%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.82 $3.82

17.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$6.70 $6.70

116.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$8.97 $8.97

69.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$8.77 $8.77

119.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.86 $3.86

39.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.45 $1.45

16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.75 $3.75

15.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.61 $3.61

24.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.12 $2.12

20.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.94 $1.94

24.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.67 $1.67

56.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$12.02 $12.02

24.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$12.85 $12.85

14.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.76 $1.76

40.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.33 $3.33

10.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.05 $2.05

24.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.94 $2.94

11.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.76 $1.76

-18.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.58 $29.58

-16.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$34.9K $34.9K

-8.93%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

8.52%

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

$183 $183

$100 $100

82.65%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$52.5 $52.5

17.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$66.4 $66.4

-2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.29 $43.29

75.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.10 $14.10

4.61%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,743 $1,743

17.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$30.0K $30.0K

28.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$47.53 $47.53

34.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$34.57 $34.57

49.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$87.3 $87.3

11.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$157 $157

-6.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,576 $1,576

49.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,366 $1,366

15.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,642 $2,642

78.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,186 $2,186

24.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,984 $2,984

33.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,448 $2,448

7.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Barnstable, MA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,576 in Barnstable, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $65 in Barnstable, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $303 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 25% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,442 including rent). Barnstable, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,577 in Chicago, IL and $3,663 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,576 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 $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,442 in Barnstable, MA – a 25% 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 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.