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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lexington, MA is 25.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lexington, MA is 22.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.76 $18.76

$20.82 $20.82

-9.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$100 $100

-24.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$11.97 $11.97

-7.77%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.56 $5.56

-7.19%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$3.11 $3.11

-20.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.42 $2.42

-19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.86 $6.86

-11.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$8.45 $8.45

-18.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.6 $3.6

$4.15 $4.15

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$5.52 $5.52

-22.83%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$4.65 $4.65

-7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.36 $12.36

$14.33 $14.33

-13.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$14.88 $14.88

-23.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$19.34 $19.34

-20.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.8 $4.8

$5.17 $5.17

-7.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.71 $1.71

-4.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.41 $4.41

-0.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$4.51 $4.51

6.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.53 $2.53

15.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.74 $2.74

2.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.43 $2.43

-12.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.7 $2.7

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$15.19 $15.19

-35.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.61 $14.61

$16.42 $16.42

-11.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.35 $2.35

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.7 $3.7

-7.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.34 $3.34

2.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.42 $1.42

10.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.31 $29.31

$25.42 $25.42

15.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-9.30%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.55%

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

$185 $185

$188 $188

-1.81%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$63.7 $63.7

-17.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 $67.6

$65.2 $65.2

3.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.44 $42.44

$76.7 $76.7

-44.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 $13.24

$14.93 $14.93

-11.32%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$2,063 $2,063

-36.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51 $51

$64.3 $64.3

-20.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.29 $39.29

$52.4 $52.4

-25.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 $85.6

$95.2 $95.2

-10.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$145 $145

-22.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 $1,585

$2,378 $2,378

-33.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 $1,337

$1,584 $1,584

-15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,612 $2,612

$4,763 $4,763

-45.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,815 $2,815

-20.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,588 $3,588

-22.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,410 $2,410

$2,490 $2,490

-3.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Lexington, MA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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