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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.6% more expensive than Medford, MA without rent, and 13.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.3% more expensive than Medford, MA without rent, and 15.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.05 $19.05

9.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$101 $101

-0.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.4 $11.4

5.00%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.59 $5.59

-0.54%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.69 $2.69

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.15 $2.15

12.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.78 $7.78

-11.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.94 $8.94

-5.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.27 $1.27

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.39 $3.39

22.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.03 $3.03

82.18%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.69 $4.69

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.75 $10.75

33.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.92 $9.92

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.2 $20.2

-4.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.72 $5.72

-9.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.15 $2.15

-20.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.91 $5.91

-25.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.95 $5.95

-24.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.36 $4.36

-41.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.68 $3.68

-25.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.86 $2.86

-15.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.29 $2.29

17.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.82 $10.82

40.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.47 $13.47

21.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.07 $2.07

13.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.02 $2.02

83.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.35 $2.35

7.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$90.9 $90.9

-18.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.64 $2.64

26.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.78 $1.78

-20.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.8 $27.8

-8.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.1K $30.1K

7.58%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25K $25K

5.01%

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

$188 $188

$192 $192

-2.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$57.8 $57.8

10.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$65.9 $65.9

-1.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.82 $43.82

75.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.87 $14.87

0.40%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,520 $1,520

35.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

40.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$52 $52

23.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.1 $33.1

58.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$65.5 $65.5

45.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$82.2 $82.2

76.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,575 $1,575

50.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,363 $1,363

16.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,661 $2,661

78.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,257 $2,257

24.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,400 $2,400

49.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,419 $2,419

2.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

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 Medford, MA: October 26, 2025

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