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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Newton, MA is 5% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Newton, MA is 4.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.76 $24.76
$20.62 $20.62
20.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.1 $98.1
$101 $101
-2.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 $11.27
$11.78 $11.78
-4.33%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$5.78 $5.78
-5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.98 $2.98
-9.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.45 $2.45
-7.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 $6.33
$6.8 $6.8
-6.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 $7.86
$8.48 $8.48
-7.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.09 $1.09
19.27%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.1 $4.1
4.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$5.36 $5.36
17.72%
Eggs
$4.74 $4.74
$4.55 $4.55
4.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.91 $19.91
$14.35 $14.35
38.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.18 $13.18
$15.2 $15.2
-13.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$18.97 $18.97
-22.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.78 $5.78
$5.44 $5.44
6.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.72 $1.72
8.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.85 $5.85
$4.39 $4.39
33.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$4.42 $4.42
40.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.57 $2.57
26.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$2.69 $2.69
40.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.41 $2.41
1.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.72 $2.72
-19.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.53 $13.53
$14.82 $14.82
-8.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.92 $16.92
$16.71 $16.71
1.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.45 $2.45
-31.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.58 $3.58
-29.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.54 $2.54
-7.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.7 $89.7
$76.2 $76.2
17.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.31 $3.31
-22.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.39 $1.39
28.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.54 $27.54
$25.15 $25.15
9.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.05 $1.05
-10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$31.5K $31.5K
-11.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.21%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$182 $182
1.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.6 $57.6
$62.6 $62.6
-7.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$66.5 $66.5
3.64%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64 $64
$77.7 $77.7
-17.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.18 $13.18
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 $13.11
$14.98 $14.98
-12.48%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$2,022 $2,022
-37.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.1K $27.1K
$39K $39K
-30.66%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5 $67.5
$63.3 $63.3
6.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.09 $38.09
$52.3 $52.3
-27.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 $91.9
$95.9 $95.9
-4.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$148 $148
-2.97%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,835 $1,835
$2,302 $2,302
-20.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,818 $1,818
$1,622 $1,622
12.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,726 $3,726
$4,642 $4,642
-19.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,792 $3,792
$2,815 $2,815
34.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,492 $5,492
$3,708 $3,708
48.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,820 $4,820
$2,559 $2,559
88.39%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Newton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,077 $9,077
$5,228 $5,228
73.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
6.6
-3.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Newton, MA: November 5, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.