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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medford, MA is 19.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medford, MA is 17.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.05 $19.05
$20.82 $20.82
-8.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.4 $11.4
$11.97 $11.97
-4.76%
Cappuccino
$5.59 $5.59
$5.56 $5.56
0.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.11 $3.11
-13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.78 $7.78
$6.86 $6.86
13.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.94 $8.94
$8.45 $8.45
5.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.04 $1.04
22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 $3.39
$4.15 $4.15
-18.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$5.52 $5.52
-45.11%
Eggs
$4.69 $4.69
$4.65 $4.65
0.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.75 $10.75
$14.33 $14.33
-24.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 $9.92
$14.88 $14.88
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.2 $20.2
$19.34 $19.34
4.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$5.17 $5.17
10.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.71 $1.71
25.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.91 $5.91
$4.41 $4.41
34.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.95 $5.95
$4.51 $4.51
31.93%
Potato (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$2.53 $2.53
72.33%
Onion (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.74 $2.74
34.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.43 $2.43
17.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.7 $2.7
-15.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.82 $10.82
$15.19 $15.19
-28.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 $13.47
$16.42 $16.42
-17.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.35 $2.35
-11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$3.7 $3.7
-45.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.53 $2.53
-7.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.9 $90.9
$74.1 $74.1
22.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.34 $3.34
-20.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.42 $1.42
25.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.8 $27.8
$25.42 $25.42
9.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25K $25K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$188 $188
2.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.8 $57.8
$63.7 $63.7
-9.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.9 $65.9
$65.2 $65.2
1.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.82 $43.82
$76.7 $76.7
-42.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.87 $14.87
$14.93 $14.93
-0.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,520 $1,520
$2,063 $2,063
-26.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.9K $27.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-28.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.1 $33.1
$52.4 $52.4
-36.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.5 $65.5
$95.2 $95.2
-31.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.2 $82.2
$145 $145
-43.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$2,378 $2,378
-33.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,363 $1,363
$1,584 $1,584
-14.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,661 $2,661
$4,763 $4,763
-44.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,815 $2,815
-19.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,400 $2,400
$3,588 $3,588
-33.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,419 $2,419
$2,490 $2,490
-2.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.6
-2.58%

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

Last update for Medford, MA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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