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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.4% more expensive than Worcester, MA without rent, and 4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.5% more expensive than Worcester, MA without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.86 $16.86
23.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65.8 $65.8
52.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.93 $11.93
0.34%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.07 $4.07
36.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.14 $2.14
45.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.73 $1.73
39.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.85 $5.85
17.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.1 $7.1
19.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.48 $3.48
19.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.7 $5.7
-3.16%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.77 $3.77
23.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$18.77 $18.77
-23.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.6 $13.6
9.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.52 $19.52
-0.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.84 $3.84
34.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.4 $1.4
22.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.78 $3.78
16.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.1 $4.1
10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.22 $3.22
-21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.57 $2.57
6.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.95 $1.95
24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.64 $1.64
64.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.12 $13.12
15.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.79 $11.79
39.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.34 $3.34
10.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.96 $2.96
12.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.01 $2.01
-29.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.8 $28.8
-11.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30K $30K
8.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$194 $194
-3.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.7 $52.7
20.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$55 $55
18.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$29.87 $29.87
156.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.58 $12.58
18.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,749 $1,749
17.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.1K $30.1K
30.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$36.81 $36.81
74.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$33.67 $33.67
55.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.5 $87.5
8.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$159 $159
-9.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,832 $1,832
29.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,768 $1,768
-10.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,817 $2,817
69.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,285 $2,285
23.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,970 $2,970
20.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,949 $2,949
-15.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Worcester, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,047 $4,047
30.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Worcester, MA: October 29, 2025

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