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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.6% more expensive than Framingham, MA without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10% more expensive than Framingham, MA without rent, and 0 with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.08 $19.08
9.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$99 $99
1.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.6 $13.6
-11.99%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.77 $3.77
47.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.7 $2.7
15.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.06 $2.06
17.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.02 $6.02
13.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.66 $6.66
26.88%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.1 $1.1
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.46 $3.46
19.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.01 $3.01
83.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.84 $5.84
-20.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.65 $10.65
34.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.77 $9.77
52.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.54 $19.54
-1.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.62 $3.62
42.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.97 $1.97
-13.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.73 $5.73
-23.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.04 $6.04
-25.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.93 $1.93
31.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.92 $2.92
-6.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.01 $3.01
-19.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.57 $2.57
5.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.88 $10.88
39.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.84 $14.84
10.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.16 $2.16
8.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.99 $1.99
85.93%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.41 $2.41
4.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.03 $4.03
-17.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.71 $1.71
-16.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.26 $29.26
-13.12%
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
$27.6K $27.6K
17.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$17.1K $17.1K
53.06%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$221 $221
-14.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$29.65 $29.65
114.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.8 $63.8
2.24%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$24.63 $24.63
211.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$25.33 $25.33
-48.56%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$8.92 $8.92
67.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,475 $1,475
39.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23K $23K
70.06%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$34.86 $34.86
84.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$29.94 $29.94
74.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$56.7 $56.7
67.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$85 $85
70.29%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,044 $2,044
16.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,159 $2,159
-26.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,254 $3,254
46.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,389 $3,389
-16.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,389 $2,389
50.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,627 $2,627
-5.19%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Framingham, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,980 $4,980
5.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Framingham, MA: October 28, 2025

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