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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,658 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,230 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,802 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 15% more than Lowell, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Lowell, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Lowell, MA by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$19.12 $19.12

7.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$80.8 $80.8

25.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$8.88 $8.88

35.47%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.48 $4.48

25.45%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.04 $2.04

50.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.66 $1.66

45.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.94 $5.94

17.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$7.66 $7.66

5.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.15 $2.15

83.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.12 $3.12

76.92%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.90 $3.90

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$10.64 $10.64

37.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$8.87 $8.87

68.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$21.05 $21.05

-10.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$2.79 $2.79

91.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.16 $1.16

51.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.85 $5.85

-24.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.77 $5.77

-24.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.60 $1.60

59.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$4.34 $4.34

-35.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.04 $3.04

-19.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.19 $2.19

21.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$11.19 $11.19

31.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.97 $14.97

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.77 $1.77

38.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.94 $1.94

89.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.84 $1.84

36.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$55.0 $55.0

35.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.98 $3.98

-17.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.78 $1.78

-19.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$28.64 $28.64

-13.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

4.38%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.55%

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

$187 $187

$185 $185

1.11%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$52.6 $52.6

18.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$65.2 $65.2

2.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$40.05 $40.05

87.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$14.17 $14.17

7.34%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,390 $1,390

46.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

66.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$51.5 $51.5

24.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$33.08 $33.08

52.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$65.0 $65.0

46.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$68.8 $68.8

108.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,628 $1,628

44.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,463 $1,463

10.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$3,759 $3,759

25.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$3,167 $3,167

-13.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$3,517 $3,517

8.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,931 $3,931

20.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,628 in Lowell, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $81 in Lowell, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $366 – making Lowell, MA 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 Lowell, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,066 in Chicago, IL, $2,658 in Lowell, MA – roughly 15% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,987 in Lowell, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Lowell, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,066 in Chicago, IL and $2,658 in Lowell, 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 $2,658 in Lowell, MA to $3,066 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 Lowell, 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.