Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Bedford, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Bedford, MA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15.5% more expensive than New Bedford, MA without rent, and 24.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.3% more expensive than New Bedford, MA without rent, and 58% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.18 $12.18
70.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$51.3 $51.3
95.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.86 $11.86
0.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.46 $4.46
24.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.76 $2.76
12.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.08 $2.08
16.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.03 $4.03
70.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.96 $5.96
41.78%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.09 $1.09
-4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.29 $4.29
-3.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.24 $5.24
5.34%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.66 $4.66
-0.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.92 $17.92
-20.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.19 $13.19
12.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.56 $14.56
32.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.68 $6.68
-22.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.89 $1.89
-9.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.99 $5.99
-26.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.21 $6.21
-27.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.2 $3.2
-20.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.62 $3.62
-24.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.14 $2.14
26.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.23 $14.23
6.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.85 $11.85
38.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.43 $2.43
52.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$28.28 $28.28
162.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.64 $5.64
-40.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.08 $2.08
-31.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.06 $29.06
-12.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.6K $27.6K
17.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$128 $128
47.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.4 $52.4
21.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$44.23 $44.23
47.41%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$29.37 $29.37
161.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.8 $11.8
26.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,263 $1,263
63.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$32.7K $32.7K
19.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$35.51 $35.51
81.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37.94 $37.94
38.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$53.8 $53.8
76.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$98.4 $98.4
47.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,472 $1,472
61.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,370 $1,370
15.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,658 $1,658
187.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,479 $1,479
90.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,522 $2,522
42.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,739 $2,739
-9.09%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,049 $4,049
30.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.38
3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for New Bedford, MA: October 29, 2025

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