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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.2% cheaper than Somerville, MA without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.5% more expensive than Somerville, MA without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.86 $24.86

-16.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$98.4 $98.4

1.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.73 $13.73

-12.82%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.13 $5.13

8.38%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.69 $2.69

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.1 $2.1

15.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.68 $7.68

-10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.76 $8.76

-3.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.26 $1.26

-17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.1 $4.1

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.1 $3.1

78.06%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.86 $4.86

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.09 $17.09

-16.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.4 $13.4

11.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.21 $20.21

-4.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.67 $5.67

-8.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.21 $2.21

-22.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.75 $5.75

-23.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.48 $6.48

-30.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.36 $4.36

-41.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 $2.19

25.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.72 $2.72

-10.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.19 $2.19

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.71 $13.71

10.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.27 $13.27

23.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.09 $2.09

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.97 $1.97

87.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.36 $2.36

7.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$91.8 $91.8

-19.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.53 $2.53

32.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.77 $1.77

-19.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.51 $28.51

-10.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.95 $0.95

13.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30K $30K

7.91%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.91%

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

$188 $188

$192 $192

-2.10%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$74 $74

-13.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$77.3 $77.3

-15.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$105 $105

-27.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.25 $15.25

-2.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,668 $1,668

23.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.3K $27.3K

43.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$58.6 $58.6

9.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.93 $39.93

31.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$150 $150

-3.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,837 $2,837

-16.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,626 $2,626

-39.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,474 $4,474

6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,454 $4,454

-36.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,542 $7,542

-52.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,561 $5,561

-55.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,114 $6,114

-13.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.47

2.01%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Somerville, MA: October 29, 2025

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