Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: New Bedford, MA is 13.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: New Bedford, MA is 16.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.18 $12.18
$20.82 $20.82
-41.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3 $51.3
$100 $100
-48.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 $11.86
$11.97 $11.97
-0.92%
Cappuccino
$4.46 $4.46
$5.56 $5.56
-19.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.11 $3.11
-11.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.42 $2.42
-14.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.03 $4.03
$6.86 $6.86
-41.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 $5.96
$8.45 $8.45
-29.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.15 $4.15
3.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$5.52 $5.52
-5.07%
Eggs
$4.66 $4.66
$4.65 $4.65
0.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.92 $17.92
$14.33 $14.33
25.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.19 $13.19
$14.88 $14.88
-11.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.56 $14.56
$19.34 $19.34
-24.72%
Apples (1kg)
$6.68 $6.68
$5.17 $5.17
29.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.71 $1.71
10.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$4.41 $4.41
35.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$4.51 $4.51
37.69%
Potato (1kg)
$3.2 $3.2
$2.53 $2.53
26.48%
Onion (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.74 $2.74
32.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.43 $2.43
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.7 $2.7
-20.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23 $14.23
$15.19 $15.19
-6.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.85 $11.85
$16.42 $16.42
-27.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.7 $3.7
-34.32%
🚌 Getting Around
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.28 $28.28
$74.1 $74.1
-61.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 $5.64
$3.34 $3.34
68.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.42 $1.42
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.06 $29.06
$25.42 $25.42
14.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-14.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 $128
$188 $188
-32.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4 $52.4
$63.7 $63.7
-17.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.23 $44.23
$65.2 $65.2
-32.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.37 $29.37
$76.7 $76.7
-61.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.8 $11.8
$14.93 $14.93
-20.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,263 $1,263
$2,063 $2,063
-38.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.7K $32.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-16.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.51 $35.51
$64.3 $64.3
-44.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.94 $37.94
$52.4 $52.4
-27.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.8 $53.8
$95.2 $95.2
-43.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4 $98.4
$145 $145
-31.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$2,378 $2,378
-38.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 $1,370
$1,584 $1,584
-13.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,658 $1,658
$4,763 $4,763
-65.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$2,815 $2,815
-47.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 $2,522
$3,588 $3,588
-29.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,739 $2,739
$2,490 $2,490
10.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Bedford, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,049 $4,049
$5,275 $5,275
-23.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
6.6
-3.33%

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

Last update for New Bedford, MA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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