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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Framingham, MA is 31.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Framingham, MA is 9.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0 with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.08 $19.08
$20.82 $20.82
-8.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99 $99
$100 $100
-1.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.6 $13.6
$11.97 $11.97
13.62%
Cappuccino
$3.77 $3.77
$5.56 $5.56
-32.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.11 $3.11
-13.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.42 $2.42
-14.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$6.86 $6.86
-12.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66 $6.66
$8.45 $8.45
-21.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.15 $4.15
-16.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$5.52 $5.52
-45.47%
Eggs
$5.84 $5.84
$4.65 $4.65
25.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 $10.65
$14.33 $14.33
-25.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.77 $9.77
$14.88 $14.88
-34.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.54 $19.54
$19.34 $19.34
1.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$5.17 $5.17
-29.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.71 $1.71
15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$4.41 $4.41
29.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.04 $6.04
$4.51 $4.51
33.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.53 $2.53
-23.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.74 $2.74
6.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.43 $2.43
23.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.7 $2.7
-4.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.88 $10.88
$15.19 $15.19
-28.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$16.42 $16.42
-9.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.35 $2.35
-8.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.7 $3.7
-46.22%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.53 $2.53
-4.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.34 $3.34
20.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.42 $1.42
20.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.26 $29.26
$25.42 $25.42
15.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-14.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K $17.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-34.67%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$188 $188
17.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.65 $29.65
$63.7 $63.7
-53.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$65.2 $65.2
-2.19%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.63 $24.63
$76.7 $76.7
-67.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.33 $25.33
$13.03 $13.03
94.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.92 $8.92
$14.93 $14.93
-40.25%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,475 $1,475
$2,063 $2,063
-28.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23K $23K
$39.2K $39.2K
-41.20%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.86 $34.86
$64.3 $64.3
-45.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.94 $29.94
$52.4 $52.4
-42.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.7 $56.7
$95.2 $95.2
-40.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85 $85
$145 $145
-41.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,044 $2,044
$2,378 $2,378
-14.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,159 $2,159
$1,584 $1,584
36.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,254 $3,254
$4,763 $4,763
-31.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,389 $3,389
$2,815 $2,815
20.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,389 $2,389
$3,588 $3,588
-33.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,627 $2,627
$2,490 $2,490
5.48%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Framingham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,980 $4,980
$5,275 $5,275
-5.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Framingham, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.