Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Lowell, MA: $2,623 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

127

Cost of Living Index in Lowell, MA
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Lowell, MA Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Lowell, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,623

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lowell, MA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lowell, MA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,623 per month in Lowell, MA vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Lowell, MA $2,623
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $4,189 per month in Lowell, MA vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Lowell, MA $4,189
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,755 per month in Lowell, MA vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Lowell, MA $5,755
Chicago, IL $6,019

Lowell, MA is about 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lowell, MA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Lowell, MA by 94%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.58 $16.58

$20.39 $20.39

-18.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 $71.2

$88.6 $88.6

-19.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 $8.79

$12.85 $12.85

-31.60%

Cappuccino

$4.95 $4.95

$5.78 $5.78

-14.36%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$2.74 $2.74

-25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.26 $2.26

-27.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.88 $6.88

-26.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$9.24 $9.24

-15.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.26 $1.26

-30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.55 $3.55

-37.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.38 $5.38

-0.74%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$4.55 $4.55

-14.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 $11.25

$13.65 $13.65

-17.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$14.07 $14.07

-37.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.87 $17.87

$18.06 $18.06

-1.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$5.16 $5.16

-47.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.98 $1.98

-38.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$3.88 $3.88

70.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$4.83 $4.83

16.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.81 $2.81

-42.70%

Onion (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.67 $2.67

61.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.07 $2.07

13.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.03 $3.03

-26.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

Wine (Bottle)

$13.77 $13.77

$15.05 $15.05

-8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.63 $2.63

-35.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.45 $3.45

12.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.43 $2.43

-23.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

$75.3 $75.3

-27.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.17 $3.17

22.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.70 $1.70

-0.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.74 $28.74

$24.90 $24.90

15.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.28 $1.28

-29.69%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$35.8K $35.8K

-24.22%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

1.04%

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

$188 $188

$192 $192

-2.33%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$69.6 $69.6

-25.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$62.2 $62.2

6.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.27 $39.27

$47.79 $47.79

-17.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.32 $12.32

$27.10 $27.10

-54.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$17.83 $17.83

-21.09%

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

$1,396 $1,396

$1,815 $1,815

-23.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$44.3K $44.3K

$40.6K $40.6K

8.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$66.2 $66.2

-13.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.87 $37.87

$51.4 $51.4

-26.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 $78.6

$103 $103

-23.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 $70.5

$143 $143

-50.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,647 $1,647

$2,531 $2,531

-34.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,423 $1,423

$1,621 $1,621

-12.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,643 $3,643

$4,828 $4,828

-24.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,097 $3,097

$2,734 $2,734

13.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,527 $3,527

$4,163 $4,163

-15.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,540 $3,540

$2,723 $2,723

29.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,031 $4,031

$4,924 $4,924

-18.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.78

-10.03%

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

Last update for Lowell, MA: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Lowell, MA

$1.4K 54.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 14% $199

Groceries & Markets

Lowell, MA

$368 14.1%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 19.2% $71

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lowell, MA

$306 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 5.8% $18

Eating Out

Lowell, MA

$274 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 25.5% $70

Clothing & Footwear

Lowell, MA

$110 4.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 49% $54

Getting Around

Lowell, MA

$74 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 30.1% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Lowell, MA

$67 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 23.8% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,647 in Lowell, MA versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Lowell, MA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $439 – making Lowell, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Lowell, MA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:34 10:34 AM

09:34 9:34 AM

1 h behind Lowell, MA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

106,519

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Lowell, MA Chicago, IL 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Lowell, MA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Lowell, MA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,623 in Lowell, MA, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Lowell, MA comes out roughly 15% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,934 per month in Lowell, MA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lowell, MA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,647 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Lowell, MA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,623 in Lowell, MA and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lowell, MA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Lowell, MA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.