Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,554 in Salem, MA, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Salem, MA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
171

Cost of Living Index in Salem, MA
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Salem, MA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Salem, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,554

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Salem, MA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Salem, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,554 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Salem, MA $3,554

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,918 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Salem, MA $4,918

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,282 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Salem, MA $6,282

Chicago, IL is about 15% cheaper than Salem, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Salem, MA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Salem, MA by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.21 $25.21

-17.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$101 $101

-11.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$10.89 $10.89

21.12%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.95 $4.95

14.34%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.48 $2.48

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.13 $2.13

7.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.90 $7.90

-13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.01 $7.01

26.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.26 $1.26

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.61 $3.61

3.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.43 $4.43

21.67%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.43 $4.43

7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.51 $12.51

10.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.34 $11.34

26.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.95 $16.95

8.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.71 $4.71

10.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.58 $1.58

25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.40 $4.40

-7.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.68 $4.68

6.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.79 $2.79

-4.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.93 $2.93

-9.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.51 $2.51

-10.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.20 $2.20

42.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.56 $9.56

44.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.25 $15.25

-2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.22 $2.22

14.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.35 $3.35

4.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.24 $2.24

8.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$59.6 $59.6

23.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.47 $3.47

-8.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.78 $1.78

-21.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$26.75 $26.75

-6.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.88 $0.88

36.36%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

43.04%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$22.9K $22.9K

16.58%

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

$194 $194

$193 $193

0.79%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.4 $58.4

18.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$65.7 $65.7

-6.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$42.42 $42.42

12.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.78 $14.78

20.50%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,423 $1,423

26.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$21.9K $21.9K

45.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$85.3 $85.3

-21.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$57.1 $57.1

-8.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$97.7 $97.7

3.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$98.3 $98.3

46.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,353 $2,353

7.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,164 $2,164

-27.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,963 $3,963

19.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,088 $3,088

-12.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,802 $2,802

49.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,303 $2,303

20.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$9,667 $9,667

-48.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Salem, MA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Salem, MA

$2.2K 60.9% 37.1% $586

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Salem, MA

$402 11.3% 10.1% $45

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Salem, MA

$366 10.3% 6% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Salem, MA

$317 8.9% 2.6% $8.6

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Salem, MA

$152 4.3% 7.1% $12

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Salem, MA

$81 2.3% 13.3% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Salem, MA

$72 2% 13.8% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,353 in Salem, 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 96% higher in Salem, MA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in Salem, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $402 in Salem, MA – so Salem, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Salem, MA

🕒 Local time

01:51 1:51 AM

02:51 2:51 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

155,469

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Salem, MA 1,380 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Salem, MA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Salem, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,554 in Salem, MA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 15% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,332 in Salem, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $2,353 in Salem, MA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Salem, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $101 in Salem, 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,554 in Salem, 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,554 in Salem, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salem, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.