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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10% cheaper than Boston, MA without rent, and 28% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.1% cheaper than Boston, MA without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.58 $24.58

-15.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$130 $130

-22.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.32 $11.32

5.74%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.5 $5.5

1.09%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.1 $3.1

0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.44 $2.44

-0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.83 $7.83

-12.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.79 $8.79

-3.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.26 $1.26

-17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.25 $4.25

-2.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.55 $6.55

-15.73%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.66 $4.66

-0.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.61 $16.61

-13.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.79 $13.79

7.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.3 $20.3

-4.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.89 $5.89

-12.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.12 $2.12

-19.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.43 $6.43

-31.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.98 $7.98

-43.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.44 $4.44

-43.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.68 $3.68

-25.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.75 $2.75

-11.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.54 $2.54

6.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.64 $13.64

11.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.13 $17.13

-4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.92 $2.92

-19.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.48 $5.48

-32.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.33 $2.33

8.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$88.9 $88.9

-16.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.62 $2.62

27.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.76 $1.76

-19.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.96 $27.96

-9.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

6.15%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.41%

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

$188 $188

$191 $191

-1.30%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$58.1 $58.1

9.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$77.9 $77.9

-16.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$80 $80

-4.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$30.42 $30.42

-57.17%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.37 $15.37

-2.86%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,755 $2,755

-25.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

44.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.8 $67.8

-5.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.6 $44.6

17.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$150 $150

-3.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,432 $3,432

-30.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,610 $2,610

-39.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$6,218 $6,218

-23.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,949 $3,949

-28.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$9,631 $9,631

-62.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$6,118 $6,118

-59.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,166 $6,166

-14.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

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