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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,158 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,850 in Northampton, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,702 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,103 in Northampton, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,246 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,356 in Northampton, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 11% more than Northampton, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Northampton, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Northampton, MA by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$17.82 $17.82

14.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.6 $91.6

$79.8 $79.8

14.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.78 $12.78

$10.52 $10.52

21.48%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.62 $4.62

21.43%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.87 $2.87

-8.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.19 $2.19

7.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$5.11 $5.11

39.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.17 $9.17

$7.95 $7.95

15.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.03 $1.03

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.09 $4.09

1.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$5.32 $5.32

9.21%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.92 $4.92

-0.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.28 $11.28

33.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$6.46 $6.46

127.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.37 $19.37

$17.46 $17.46

10.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$5.80 $5.80

-3.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.60 $1.60

24.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.40 $4.40

-5.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.54 $5.54

-9.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.23 $3.23

-8.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.76 $3.76

-24.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.08 $3.08

-27.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.17 $16.17

$13.39 $13.39

20.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.63 $13.63

9.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.75 $1.75

44.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.03 $2.03

69.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.9 $73.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.83 $0.83

39.76%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$36.2K $36.2K

1.23%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.06%

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

$190 $190

$132 $132

44.05%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$61.2 $61.2

13.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$72.3 $72.3

-17.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$51.9 $51.9

22.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.95 $27.95

Cinema Ticket

$17.65 $17.65

$15.12 $15.12

16.73%

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

$1,550 $1,550

$1,803 $1,803

-14.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

6.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 $62.3

$23.32 $23.32

167.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 $56.0

$38.50 $38.50

45.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$80.9 $80.9

26.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$99.3 $99.3

58.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,382 $2,382

$2,075 $2,075

14.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 $1,699

$1,733 $1,733

-1.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,665 $4,665

$2,647 $2,647

76.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,785 $2,785

$2,889 $2,889

-3.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,677 $2,677

$2,781 $2,781

-3.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$3,848 $3,848

32.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.04

5.63%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 27, 2026

Last update for Northampton, MA: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,382 in Chicago, IL versus $2,075 in Northampton, 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 33% 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 $92.0 in Chicago, IL versus $80.0 in Northampton, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $466 vs $364 – making Northampton, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Northampton, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,158 in Chicago, IL, $2,850 in Northampton, MA – roughly 11% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,736 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,275 in Northampton, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Chicago, IL and $80.0 in Northampton, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,158 in Chicago, IL and $2,850 in Northampton, 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 $2,850 in Northampton, MA to $3,158 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Northampton, 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.