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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Northampton, MA is 5.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Northampton, MA is 22.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69 $17.69
$20.82 $20.82
-15.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1 $80.1
$100 $100
-20.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 $9.33
$11.97 $11.97
-22.06%
Cappuccino
$4.54 $4.54
$5.56 $5.56
-18.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.11 $3.11
-28.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$2.42 $2.42
-33.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.94 $4.94
$6.86 $6.86
-27.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11 $6.11
$8.45 $8.45
-27.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.15 $4.15
-4.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.61 $5.61
$5.52 $5.52
1.63%
Eggs
$5.24 $5.24
$4.65 $4.65
12.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 $14.17
$14.33 $14.33
-1.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.41 $14.41
$14.88 $14.88
-3.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$19.34 $19.34
-10.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$5.17 $5.17
-8.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.71 $1.71
-13.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.41 $4.41
-20.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.51 $4.51
10.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.53 $2.53
17.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.74 $2.74
4.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.43 $2.43
30.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.7 $2.7
-32.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.48 $14.48
$15.19 $15.19
-4.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.74 $12.74
$16.42 $16.42
-22.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.7 $3.7
-46.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.34 $3.34
47.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.42 $1.42
42.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.92 $27.92
$25.42 $25.42
9.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 $134
$188 $188
-28.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.6 $58.6
$63.7 $63.7
-8.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.1 $78.1
$65.2 $65.2
19.72%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 $52.6
$76.7 $76.7
-31.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.93 $14.93
-1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,414 $1,414
$2,063 $2,063
-31.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28K $28K
$39.2K $39.2K
-28.51%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.83 $23.83
$64.3 $64.3
-62.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.68 $46.68
$52.4 $52.4
-10.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 $84.4
$95.2 $95.2
-11.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$145 $145
-28.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,088 $2,088
$2,378 $2,378
-12.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,755 $1,755
$1,584 $1,584
10.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,645 $2,645
$4,763 $4,763
-44.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,880 $2,880
$2,815 $2,815
2.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,021 $3,021
$3,588 $3,588
-15.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,741 $2,741
$2,490 $2,490
10.07%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Northampton, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,138 $2,138
$5,275 $5,275
-59.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Northampton, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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