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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.6% cheaper than Salem, MA without rent, and 11.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.8% cheaper than Salem, MA without rent, and 2.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$25.18 $25.18
-17.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$102 $102
-1.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.86 $10.86
10.22%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.88 $4.88
13.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.47 $2.47
25.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.13 $2.13
13.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.87 $7.87
-12.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.97 $6.97
21.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.22 $1.22
-14.75%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.52 $4.52
-8.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$8.87 $8.87
-37.77%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.41 $4.41
5.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.39 $14.39
-0.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.09 $14.09
5.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$8.76 $8.76
120.78%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.58 $4.58
12.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.29 $1.29
32.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.4 $3.4
29.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$8.76 $8.76
-48.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.43 $4.43
-42.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.38 $2.38
15.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.52 $2.52
-3.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.58 $3.58
-24.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.43 $9.43
61.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.94 $12.94
26.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$6.9 $6.9
-46.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.45 $2.45
3.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$55.1 $55.1
34.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.4 $3.4
-1.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.61 $1.61
-11.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.43 $29.43
-13.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.08 $1.08
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.6K $29.6K
9.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$170 $170
10.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$90.1 $90.1
-29.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$82.6 $82.6
-21.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$41.91 $41.91
83.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.59 $14.59
2.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,322 $1,322
55.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$71.6 $71.6
-10.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$57.7 $57.7
-9.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.6 $98.6
-3.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$99.7 $99.7
45.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,369 $2,369
0.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,980 $1,980
-19.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,834 $3,834
24.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,792 $2,792
0.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$5,400 $5,400
-33.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,891 $4,891
-49.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Salem, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$9,489 $9,489
-44.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Salem, MA: October 28, 2025

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