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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.1% more expensive than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 29.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9% cheaper than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.93 $16.93

22.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.83 $11.83

1.18%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.57 $5.57

-0.18%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.03 $3.03

2.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.89 $7.89

-13.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.06 $8.06

4.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.14 $1.14

-8.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.02 $4.02

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.52 $6.52

-15.34%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.79 $4.79

-2.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.17 $15.17

-5.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.38 $13.38

11.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.7 $20.7

-6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.79 $6.79

-23.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.94 $1.94

-11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.3 $6.3

-30.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.32 $6.32

-28.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.25 $3.25

-22.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.52 $3.52

-22.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.36 $2.36

2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.6 $2.6

3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.74 $13.74

10.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.93 $14.93

9.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.72 $5.72

-35.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.4 $2.4

5.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$89.4 $89.4

-17.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.57 $2.57

29.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.73 $1.73

-17.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.31 $28.31

-10.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.70%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.41%

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

$188 $188

$160 $160

17.68%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.7 $52.7

20.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$55.3 $55.3

17.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$101 $101

-24.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$30.36 $30.36

-57.08%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.32 $15.32

-2.55%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,793 $2,793

-26.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.7K $27.7K

41.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.2 $67.2

-4.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.67 $44.67

17.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$102 $102

-6.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$148 $148

-2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,818 $2,818

-15.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,865 $2,865

-44.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$5,085 $5,085

-6.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,510 $3,510

-19.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,887 $4,887

-26.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,940 $4,940

-49.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,088 $6,088

-13.36%

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 Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

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