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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,507 in New Bedford, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,232 in New Bedford, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,956 in New Bedford, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than New Bedford, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and New Bedford, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, New Bedford, MA by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$11.76 $11.76

76.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$51.0 $51.0

93.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.15 $12.15

-2.06%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.38 $4.38

33.33%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.76 $2.76

11.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.09 $2.09

12.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.90 $3.90

76.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.90 $5.90

36.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.36 $4.36

-8.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.23 $5.23

7.07%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.84 $4.84

-5.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$17.50 $17.50

-18.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.89 $12.89

15.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$14.27 $14.27

33.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$6.46 $6.46

-17.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.95 $1.95

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.86 $5.86

-27.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.96 $5.96

-26.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.26 $3.26

-21.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.48 $3.48

-19.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.20 $2.20

22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.04 $14.04

6.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.99 $14.99

-1.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.76 $1.76

34.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.53 $2.53

41.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.95 $1.95

25.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$28.15 $28.15

167.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.38 $5.38

-37.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.00 $2.00

-31.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.06 $29.06

-12.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$28.3K $28.3K

14.23%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.00%

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

$188 $188

$128 $128

47.48%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$53.5 $53.5

18.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$45.26 $45.26

46.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$29.22 $29.22

158.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.04 $12.04

22.92%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,262 $1,262

66.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$33.1K $33.1K

16.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$34.54 $34.54

87.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$38.51 $38.51

33.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$54.8 $54.8

75.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$97.8 $97.8

49.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,512 $1,512

54.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,338 $1,338

17.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,696 $1,696

181.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,460 $1,460

86.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$4,865 $4,865

2.39%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for New Bedford, MA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,512 in New Bedford, 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 2% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $51.0 in New Bedford, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $445 in Chicago, IL vs $446 in New Bedford, MA – so Chicago, IL 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 New Bedford, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,507 in New Bedford, MA – roughly 23% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,761 in New Bedford, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $51.0 in New Bedford, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,507 in New Bedford, 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 $2,507 in New Bedford, MA to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with New Bedford, 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.