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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.1% more expensive than Waltham, MA without rent, and 24.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.3% more expensive than Waltham, MA without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.12 $19.12

8.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.21 $11.21

6.78%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.41 $4.41

26.08%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.67 $2.67

16.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.15 $2.15

12.56%

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

$7.36 $7.36

14.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.32 $1.32

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.34 $3.34

24.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.04 $4.04

36.63%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.86 $4.86

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.41 $16.41

-12.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.45 $10.45

42.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.45 $20.45

-5.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.66 $5.66

-8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.19 $2.19

-21.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.74 $5.74

-23.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.86 $7.86

-42.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.54 $4.54

-44.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.46 $2.46

11.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.82 $2.82

-13.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.48 $1.48

82.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.13 $11.13

36.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.91 $14.91

10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.06 $2.06

14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.98 $2.98

24.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.3 $2.3

10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$59.4 $59.4

24.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.54 $2.54

31.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.69 $1.69

-15.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.47 $27.47

-7.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.2K $29.2K

10.98%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.90%

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

$188 $188

$323 $323

-41.80%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$56.9 $56.9

11.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$79.3 $79.3

-17.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.64 $43.64

75.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.1 $15.1

-1.13%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,504 $1,504

37.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

40.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$66.1 $66.1

-2.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$32.59 $32.59

60.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$65.9 $65.9

44.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$84.4 $84.4

71.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,664 $2,664

-10.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,532 $2,532

-37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,339 $4,339

9.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$5,091 $5,091

-44.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,634 $2,634

36.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,530 $2,530

-1.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,663 $4,663

13.11%

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 Waltham, MA: October 28, 2025

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