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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 34.2% more expensive than Southbridge, MA without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.5% more expensive than Southbridge, MA without rent, and 25.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.73 $19.73

5.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.5 $64.5

55.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.29 $11.29

6.02%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.14 $4.14

34.30%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.17 $2.17

43.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.75 $1.75

38.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.02 $6.02

13.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.1 $7.1

19.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.31 $3.31

25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.68 $5.68

-2.82%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.64 $3.64

27.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.56 $16.56

-13.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.67 $13.67

8.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.67 $19.67

-1.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.89 $3.89

32.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.39 $1.39

23.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.79 $3.79

16.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.01 $4.01

12.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.12 $3.12

-18.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.57 $2.57

6.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.87 $1.87

29.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.59 $1.59

69.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.75 $12.75

19.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.88 $11.88

38.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.2 $3.2

15.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.63 $2.63

27.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.22 $2.22

-36.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.05 $28.05

-9.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

6.25%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.40%

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

$188 $188

$196 $196

-3.78%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.9 $52.9

20.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.7 $64.7

0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.3 $42.3

81.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.76 $14.76

1.15%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,719 $1,719

19.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

40.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.85 $46.85

37.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.54 $33.54

56.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.9 $84.9

12.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

-0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,587 $1,587

49.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,357 $1,357

16.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,653 $2,653

79.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,186 $2,186

28.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,765 $2,765

29.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,542 $2,542

-2.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Southbridge, MA: October 28, 2025

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