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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,646 in Bourne, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,910 in Bourne, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,173 in Bourne, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Bourne, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Bourne, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Bourne, MA by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$17.07 $17.07

22.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$102 $102

-3.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.92 $11.92

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.04 $6.04

-7.28%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.27 $2.27

35.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.62 $1.62

52.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.16 $7.16

-0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.02 $7.02

15.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.27 $1.27

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.34 $4.34

-5.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.79 $5.79

-3.11%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$6.75 $6.75

-33.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$14.19 $14.19

0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.25 $10.25

45.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$19.92 $19.92

-3.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.65 $5.65

-9.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.64 $2.64

-32.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.23 $4.23

3.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.31 $4.31

5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.00 $3.00

-15.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.53 $2.53

8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.85 $2.85

-15.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$17.49 $17.49

-14.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.04 $15.04

-1.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.85 $1.85

32.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.37 $4.37

-14.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.06 $2.06

20.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.04 $3.04

4.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$42.81 $42.81

-41.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.95 $0.95

11.58%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.8K $23.8K

34.37%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.05%

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

$185 $185

$217 $217

-14.71%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$54.4 $54.4

13.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$59.0 $59.0

13.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.93 $42.93

75.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$20.29 $20.29

-27.50%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,776 $1,776

13.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.2K $16.2K

142.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.41 $49.41

30.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.76 $40.76

28.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$88.0 $88.0

11.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$96.4 $96.4

53.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,624 $1,624

42.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,343 $1,343

18.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,613 $2,613

76.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,254 $2,254

23.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,886 $2,886

35.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,193 $2,193

19.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.74

-2.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bourne, MA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,624 in Bourne, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $102 in Bourne, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $449 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bourne, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,646 in Bourne, MA – roughly 16% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,969 in Bourne, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bourne, MA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,646 in Bourne, MA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,020 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,776 in Bourne, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,646 in Bourne, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,646 in Bourne, MA to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bourne, MA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.