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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.3% more expensive than Springfield, MA without rent, and 4.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.1% more expensive than Springfield, MA without rent, and 14.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.33 $19.33
7.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.6 $79.6
26.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.07 $13.07
-8.42%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.85 $5.85
-4.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.82 $2.82
10.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.93 $1.93
25.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.97 $4.97
38.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.93 $5.93
42.50%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.01 $1.01
2.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.6 $2.6
59.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.83 $4.83
14.29%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.43 $3.43
35.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.08 $14.08
1.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.16 $13.16
13.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.69 $17.69
9.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.73 $4.73
9.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.42 $1.42
20.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.5 $4.5
-2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.95 $4.95
-8.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.91 $2.91
-13.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.89 $2.89
-5.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.95 $1.95
24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.22 $1.22
121.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.32 $12.32
23.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.14 $13.14
24.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.02 $4.02
-7.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.46 $1.46
73.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$53 $53
39.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.87 $4.87
-31.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.06 $2.06
-31.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.22 $27.22
-6.61%
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
$28.4K $28.4K
14.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$212 $212
-11.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57 $57
11.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$75.6 $75.6
-13.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$27.47 $27.47
179.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.92 $14.92
0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,428 $1,428
44.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$27.5K $27.5K
42.37%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.4 $50.4
27.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$45.63 $45.63
14.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.6 $84.6
12.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$102 $102
42.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,307 $1,307
81.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,832 $1,832
-13.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,480 $2,480
92.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,618 $2,618
7.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,402 $2,402
49.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,444 $2,444
1.89%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Springfield, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,421 $3,421
54.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Springfield, MA: October 28, 2025

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