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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.7% more expensive than Lexington, MA without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29% more expensive than Lexington, MA without rent, and 24.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.76 $18.76

10.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.6 $75.6

32.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.04 $11.04

8.42%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.16 $5.16

7.75%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.47 $2.47

25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.05 $6.05

13.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.85 $6.85

23.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.6 $3.6

15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.26 $4.26

29.58%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.28 $4.28

8.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.36 $12.36

15.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.39 $11.39

30.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.37 $15.37

25.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.8 $4.8

7.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.37 $4.37

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.81 $4.81

-6.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.91 $2.91

-13.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.8 $2.8

-2.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.12 $2.12

14.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.16 $2.16

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.86 $9.86

54.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.61 $14.61

12.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.44 $3.44

7.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.41 $3.41

-2.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.57 $1.57

-9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.31 $29.31

-13.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.25%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.58%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.85%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.2 $52.2

21.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.6 $67.6

-3.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.44 $42.44

80.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.24 $13.24

12.76%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,306 $1,306

57.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

67.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51 $51

26.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.29 $39.29

33.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85.6 $85.6

11.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$112 $112

28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,585 $1,585

50.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,337 $1,337

18.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,612 $2,612

82.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,247 $2,247

25.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,768 $2,768

29.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,410 $2,410

3.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lexington, MA: October 29, 2025

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