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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,288 in Lynn, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,749 in Lynn, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,210 in Lynn, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 5% cheaper than Lynn, MA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chicago, IL and Lynn, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Lynn, MA by 140%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.65 $19.65

1.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$102 $102

-13.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$13.45 $13.45

-3.79%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.17 $5.17

7.16%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.08 $3.08

-11.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.37 $2.37

-0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$7.86 $7.86

-9.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$9.02 $9.02

-3.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.13 $1.13

18.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.32 $4.32

-3.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.22 $5.22

9.77%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$6.09 $6.09

-19.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$13.03 $13.03

13.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.82 $13.82

7.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$17.59 $17.59

11.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.68 $6.68

-16.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.91 $1.91

0.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.63 $5.63

-25.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.42 $5.42

-10.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.53 $2.53

12.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.54 $2.54

10.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.84 $2.84

-22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.85 $2.85

7.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$12.76 $12.76

26.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.46 $13.46

10.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.16 $2.16

17.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.11 $4.11

-18.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.99 $1.99

28.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$114 $114

-33.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.53 $2.53

30.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.70 $1.70

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$15.06 $15.06

66.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.97 $0.97

20.62%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.1K $37.1K

-2.93%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.16%

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

$191 $191

$321 $321

-40.39%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$102 $102

-33.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$83.7 $83.7

-26.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$41.84 $41.84

51.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.57 $15.57

15.74%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,820 $1,820

-16.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

5.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$73.6 $73.6

-13.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$49.38 $49.38

11.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$117 $117

-13.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$166 $166

-7.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$2,130 $2,130

12.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,624 $1,624

1.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$3,426 $3,426

33.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,458 $2,458

12.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,784 $2,784

44.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,383 $2,383

15.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.04

5.63%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lynn, MA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $2,130 in Lynn, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $102 in Lynn, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $459 in Lynn, MA – so Lynn, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lynn, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $3,288 in Lynn, MA – roughly 5% apart. Lynn, MA costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,932 in Lynn, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Lynn, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $102 in Lynn, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $3,288 in Lynn, 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL to $3,288 in Lynn, MA. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lynn, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.