Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,165 in Natick, MA, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Natick, MA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
151

Cost of Living Index in Natick, MA
Learn more

Natick, MA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Natick, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,165

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Natick, MA

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 Natick, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,165 in Natick, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Natick, MA $3,165

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,076 in Natick, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Natick, MA $3,076

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,986 in Natick, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Natick, MA $2,986

Chicago, IL is about 4% cheaper than Natick, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Chicago, IL and Natick, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Natick, MA by 133%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.21 $20.21

2.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$75.7 $75.7

17.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.98 $12.98

1.62%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.11 $5.11

10.76%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.78 $2.78

-5.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.44 $2.44

-6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.90 $5.90

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.93 $8.93

-1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.28 $1.28

-2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.48 $4.48

-16.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.73 $6.73

-19.91%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.84 $5.84

-18.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$22.11 $22.11

-37.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.78 $10.78

33.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$19.37 $19.37

-5.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$7.26 $7.26

-28.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.13 $1.13

75.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.29 $3.29

23.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.76 $6.76

-26.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.82 $2.82

-5.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.38 $4.38

-39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.69 $2.69

-16.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.94 $2.94

6.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$13.19 $13.19

4.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.81 $16.81

-11.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.82 $1.82

39.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.90 $4.90

-28.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$6.11 $6.11

-47.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.02 $1.02

17.65%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.2K $27.2K

28.79%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-1.25%

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

$194 $194

$86.4 $86.4

124.95%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$29.89 $29.89

132.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$57.7 $57.7

6.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$196 $196

-75.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.43 $12.43

43.28%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,178 $2,178

-17.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$38.97 $38.97

71.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$16.35 $16.35

218.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,703 $2,703

-6.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,872 $1,872

-15.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,983 $3,983

23.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.51

4.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Natick, MA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Natick, MA

$1.9K 59.1% 18.6% $294

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Natick, MA

$492 15.6% 10% $45

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Natick, MA

$330 10.4% 4.3% $15

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Natick, MA

$174 5.5% 46.5% $151

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Natick, MA

$70 * 2.2% 57.3% $94

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Natick, MA

$6.1 * 0.2% 93.5% $87

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Natick, MA

$221 7% 165% $137

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,703 in Natick, 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 24% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $76 in Natick, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $492 in Natick, MA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Natick, MA

🕒 Local time

19:13 7:13 PM

20:13 8:13 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

32,786

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Natick, MA 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Natick, MA

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

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 Natick, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,165 in Natick, MA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 4% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,748 in Natick, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $2,703 in Natick, MA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $76 in Natick, MA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Natick, MA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,165 in Natick, MA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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