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 17.9% more expensive than New Bedford, MA without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.7% more expensive than New Bedford, MA without rent, and 60.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$12.18 $12.18
65.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$51.0 $51.0
99.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$11.95 $11.95
0.59%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.23 $4.23
32.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.73 $2.73
10.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.04 $2.04
15.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.07 $4.07
71.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.09 $6.09
38.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.03 $1.03
5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.36 $4.36
-5.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.21 $5.21
6.91%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$4.70 $4.70
-4.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$17.61 $17.61
-18.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$13.08 $13.08
14.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$14.44 $14.44
31.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$6.48 $6.48
-19.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.86 $1.86
-4.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.78 $5.78
-24.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.23 $6.23
-27.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.30 $3.30
-22.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.47 $3.47
-21.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.04 $2.04
22.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.13 $2.13
23.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$13.98 $13.98
8.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$12.09 $12.09
23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.70 $1.70
45.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.44 $2.44
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.03 $2.03
26.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$28.11 $28.11
164.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$5.37 $5.37
-38.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.03 $2.03
-32.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.06 $29.06
-14.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.83 $0.83
27.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$27.8K $27.8K
13.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.0K $25.0K
4.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$131 $131
42.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$53.7 $53.7
17.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$45.18 $45.18
45.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$29.07 $29.07
158.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$12.12 $12.12
24.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,242 $1,242
66.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$33.4K $33.4K
16.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$35.34 $35.34
80.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$38.29 $38.29
32.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$55.6 $55.6
75.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$98.7 $98.7
45.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,508 $1,508
55.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,327 $1,327
21.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,688 $1,688
182.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,479 $1,479
86.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Bedford, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,873 $3,873
29.27%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for New Bedford, MA: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities