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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,114 in Medford, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,234 in Medford, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,353 in Medford, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL and Medford, MA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$18.06 $18.06

10.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$95.4 $95.4

-7.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.92 $11.92

8.56%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.53 $5.53

0.18%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.93 $2.93

-6.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.44 $2.44

-3.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$8.13 $8.13

-12.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.87 $8.87

-1.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.03 $1.03

30.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.98 $3.98

4.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.29 $5.29

8.32%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.72 $4.72

3.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$11.24 $11.24

31.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.15 $14.15

4.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$17.42 $17.42

12.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.90 $6.90

-19.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.79 $1.79

7.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.65 $5.65

-26.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.56 $5.56

-12.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.77 $3.77

-24.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.95 $3.95

-29.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.92 $2.92

-24.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.87 $2.87

6.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$12.69 $12.69

27.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.35 $13.35

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.09 $4.09

-18.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.39 $2.39

6.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$90.7 $90.7

-16.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.61 $2.61

26.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.72 $1.72

-20.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$28.36 $28.36

-11.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.96 $0.96

21.87%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.3K $36.3K

-0.93%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.10%

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

$191 $191

$265 $265

-27.74%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$54.3 $54.3

24.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$83.0 $83.0

-25.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$41.12 $41.12

54.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.93 $14.93

20.70%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,798 $1,798

-15.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$29.5K $29.5K

6.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$57.0 $57.0

11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$38.56 $38.56

43.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$81.5 $81.5

23.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$98.9 $98.9

54.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,612 $1,612

49.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,625 $1,625

1.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,455 $2,455

86.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,101 $2,101

31.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,784 $2,784

44.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,405 $2,405

14.17%

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 Medford, MA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,612 in Medford, 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 $95.0 in Medford, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $453 in Medford, MA – so Medford, 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 Medford, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,671 in Medford, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $95.0 in Medford, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 20% less in Medford, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $3,114 in Medford, 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 $3,114 in Medford, MA to $3,117 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 Medford, 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.