Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $3,296 in Lynn, MA, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

160

Cost of Living Index in Lynn, MA
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Lynn, MA Living Index
152

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

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Lynn, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,296

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lynn, 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 Lynn, MA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,296 per month in Lynn, MA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Lynn, MA $3,296
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,749 per month in Lynn, MA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Lynn, MA $4,749
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $6,202 per month in Lynn, MA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Lynn, MA $6,202
Chicago, IL $6,115

Lynn, MA costs about 5% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Lynn, MA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Lynn, MA by 143%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.09 $20.09

$20.65 $20.65

-2.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$90.2 $90.2

10.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.38 $13.38

$12.94 $12.94

3.40%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.60 $5.60

-3.39%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.64 $2.64

15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.27 $2.27

-2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.98 $6.98

13.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.06 $9.06

$8.83 $8.83

2.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.27 $1.27

-8.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.80 $3.80

15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$5.30 $5.30

0.57%

Eggs

$6.24 $6.24

$4.76 $4.76

31.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.10 $13.10

$13.96 $13.96

-6.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.51 $14.51

$14.61 $14.61

-0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$18.77 $18.77

-6.87%

Apples (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$5.19 $5.19

31.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.98 $1.98

4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.93 $3.93

35.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.96 $4.96

13.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.76 $2.76

-7.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.76 $2.76

-10.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.22 $2.22

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.98 $2.98

1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.09 $13.09

$14.02 $14.02

-6.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.59 $13.59

$15.28 $15.28

-11.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.58 $2.58

-20.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 $4.21

$3.50 $3.50

20.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.47 $2.47

-20.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 $114

$74.8 $74.8

51.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.34 $3.34

-19.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.43 $1.43

19.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.09 $15.09

$24.32 $24.32

-37.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-13.65%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.02%

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

$313 $313

$193 $193

62.62%

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

$101 $101

$68.3 $68.3

47.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$61.3 $61.3

42.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.69 $41.69

$54.1 $54.1

-22.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$16.06 $16.06

$17.74 $17.74

-9.47%

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

$1,812 $1,812

$1,652 $1,652

9.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K $29.5K

$31.1K $31.1K

-4.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.7 $75.7

$66.1 $66.1

14.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 $51.3

$51.2 $51.2

0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$100 $100

18.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 $163

$141 $141

15.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,111 $2,111

$2,446 $2,446

-13.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$1,678 $1,678

-5.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,392 $3,392

$4,717 $4,717

-28.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$2,795 $2,795

-10.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,673 $2,673

$4,105 $4,105

-34.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$2,650 $2,650

-11.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,665 $3,665

$4,866 $4,866

-24.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.81

-2.50%

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

Last update for Lynn, MA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Lynn, MA

$1.6K 48.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 5.4% $86

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lynn, MA

$502 15.2%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 35.8% $179

Groceries & Markets

Lynn, MA

$468 14.2%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 4% $19

Eating Out

Lynn, MA

$345 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 0.4% $1.3

Clothing & Footwear

Lynn, MA

$184 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 12.3% $23

Getting Around

Lynn, MA

$133 4%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 28.2% $37

Sport & Entertainment

Lynn, MA

$74 2.2%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 21.4% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,111 in Lynn, MA versus $2,446 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 33% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Lynn, MA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $468 vs $449 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Lynn, MA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

01:22 1:22 AM

00:22 12:22 AM

1 h behind Lynn, MA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

90,329

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Lynn, MA Chicago, IL 1,370 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Lynn, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,296 in Lynn, MA, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 5% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,944 per month in Lynn, MA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Lynn, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Lynn, MA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,296 in Lynn, MA and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,296 in Lynn, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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