Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Nashua, NH

For one person, living is cheaper in Nashua, NH: $2,934 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. The total is higher in Chicago, IL despite lower rent and utilities.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
141

Cost of Living Index in Nashua, NH
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Nashua, NH Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Nashua, NH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,934

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Nashua, NH

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Nashua, NH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,934 in Nashua, NH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Nashua, NH $2,934

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,980 in Nashua, NH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Nashua, NH $3,980

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,026 in Nashua, NH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Nashua, NH $5,026

Chicago, IL costs about 4% more than Nashua, NH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Nashua, NH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Nashua, NH by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.24 $20.24

2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$95.8 $95.8

-6.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$10.42 $10.42

26.58%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.07 $4.07

39.07%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.30 $2.30

14.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.53 $1.53

49.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.15 $5.15

33.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.64 $7.64

15.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.05 $1.05

19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.78 $2.78

33.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.17 $2.17

148.39%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.15 $4.15

14.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.89 $11.89

16.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$7.87 $7.87

82.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.97 $11.97

53.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$2.31 $2.31

125.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.35 $1.35

46.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.55 $4.55

-10.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.28 $5.28

-5.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.50 $3.50

-23.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.29 $3.29

-19.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.37 $1.37

63.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.96 $1.96

59.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$13.41 $13.41

3.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.78 $14.78

0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.68 $1.68

51.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.01 $2.01

74.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.23 $1.23

97.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$39.40 $39.40

86.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$6.02 $6.02

-47.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.42 $2.42

-42.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$35.42 $35.42

-29.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.86 $0.86

39.53%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.3K $27.3K

28.28%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.6K $26.6K

0.16%

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

$194 $194

$196 $196

-0.83%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$53.5 $53.5

29.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$52.7 $52.7

16.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$53.0 $53.0

-9.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$29.72 $29.72

-8.01%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.82 $14.82

20.18%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$812 $812

120.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$12.2K $12.2K

161.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$44.74 $44.74

49.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$38.08 $38.08

36.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$76.5 $76.5

32.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$78.7 $78.7

82.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,642 $1,642

53.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,754 $1,754

-10.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,569 $2,569

84.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,273 $2,273

18.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,130 $3,130

33.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,113 $3,113

-11.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,148 $5,148

-4.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.17

10.37%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Nashua, NH: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Nashua, NH

$1.8K 59.8% 11.2% $176

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Nashua, NH

$327 11.1% 26.9% $121

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Nashua, NH

$298 10.2% 13.5% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Nashua, NH

$302 10.3% 7.1% $23

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Nashua, NH

$107 3.7% 34.7% $57

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Nashua, NH

$62 2.1% 33.1% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Nashua, NH

$83 2.8% 1.1% $0.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,642 in Nashua, NH. 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 4% higher in Nashua, NH, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $96 in Nashua, NH. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $327 in Nashua, NH – so Nashua, NH wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Nashua, NH

🕒 Local time

21:14 9:14 PM

22:14 10:14 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

86,494

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Nashua, NH 1,330 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Nashua, NH

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Nashua, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,934 in Nashua, NH – Nashua, NH comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,401 in Nashua, NH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nashua, NH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,642 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $96 in Nashua, NH. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,934 in Nashua, NH. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Nashua, NH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.