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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lowell, MA is 31.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lowell, MA is 17.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.79 $18.79

$20.82 $20.82

-9.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$100 $100

-21.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 $8.82

$11.97 $11.97

-26.32%

Cappuccino

$4.41 $4.41

$5.56 $5.56

-20.68%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$3.11 $3.11

-34.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.42 $2.42

-30.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.86 $6.86

-12.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 $7.42

$8.45 $8.45

-12.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.04 $1.04

-22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.17 $2.17

$4.15 $4.15

-47.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.1 $3.1

$5.52 $5.52

-43.84%

Eggs

$3.96 $3.96

$4.65 $4.65

-14.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 $10.78

$14.33 $14.33

-24.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$14.88 $14.88

-39.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.24 $21.24

$19.34 $19.34

9.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$5.17 $5.17

-46.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.71 $1.71

-29.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$4.41 $4.41

34.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.51 $4.51

29.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.53 $2.53

-36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.74 $2.74

65.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.43 $2.43

20.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.7 $2.7

-15.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.9 $10.9

$15.19 $15.19

-28.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 $13.49

$16.42 $16.42

-17.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.35 $2.35

-25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.7 $3.7

-44.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.8 $1.8

$2.53 $2.53

-28.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 $55.8

$74.1 $74.1

-24.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.34 $3.34

22.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.7 $29.7

$25.42 $25.42

16.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.08 $1.08

-17.59%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-9.13%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.15%

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

$190 $190

$188 $188

0.85%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$63.7 $63.7

-17.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$65.2 $65.2

0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.45 $40.45

$76.7 $76.7

-47.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.31 $14.31

$14.93 $14.93

-4.15%

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

$1,427 $1,427

$2,063 $2,063

-30.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-41.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52 $52

$64.3 $64.3

-19.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.81 $32.81

$52.4 $52.4

-37.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 $65.7

$95.2 $95.2

-31.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69 $69

$145 $145

-52.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,672 $1,672

$2,378 $2,378

-29.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,453 $1,453

$1,584 $1,584

-8.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,730 $3,730

$4,763 $4,763

-21.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,093 $3,093

$2,815 $2,815

9.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,590 $3,590

$3,588 $3,588

0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,748 $2,748

$2,490 $2,490

10.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,971 $3,971

$5,275 $5,275

-24.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Lowell, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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