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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.8% cheaper than Newton, MA without rent, and 6.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4.5% cheaper than Newton, MA without rent, and 14.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.62 $20.62

$24.76 $24.76

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$98.1 $98.1

3.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$11.27 $11.27

4.53%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.45 $5.45

6.06%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.7 $2.7

10.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.27 $2.27

7.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.8 $6.8

$6.33 $6.33

7.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 $8.48

$7.86 $7.86

7.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.3 $1.3

-16.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$4.28 $4.28

-4.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$6.31 $6.31

-15.06%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.74 $4.74

-4.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$19.91 $19.91

-27.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.2 $15.2

$13.18 $13.18

15.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 $18.97

$14.68 $14.68

29.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$5.78 $5.78

-5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.86 $1.86

-7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.85 $5.85

-24.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$6.23 $6.23

-29.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.25 $3.25

-20.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.79 $3.79

-29.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.44 $2.44

-1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.19 $2.19

24.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.53 $13.53

9.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.71 $16.71

$16.92 $16.92

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.69 $1.69

44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.52 $2.52

42.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.35 $2.35

8.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

$89.7 $89.7

-15.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.56 $2.56

29.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.78 $1.78

-21.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$27.54 $27.54

-8.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.94 $0.94

11.70%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$27.8K $27.8K

13.29%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.31%

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

$182 $182

$186 $186

-1.86%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$57.6 $57.6

8.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$68.9 $68.9

-3.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$64 $64

21.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.18 $13.18

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$13.11 $13.11

14.26%

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

$2,022 $2,022

$1,274 $1,274

58.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39K $39K

$27.1K $27.1K

44.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$67.5 $67.5

-6.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$38.09 $38.09

37.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$91.9 $91.9

4.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$144 $144

3.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$1,835 $1,835

25.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$1,818 $1,818

-10.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,642 $4,642

$3,726 $3,726

24.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,792 $3,792

-25.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,708 $3,708

$5,492 $5,492

-32.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,559 $2,559

$4,820 $4,820

-46.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$9,077 $9,077

-42.41%

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: November 5, 2025

Last update for Newton, MA: November 5, 2025

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