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

😐 Solo nomad: Salem, MA is 15.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Salem, MA is 6.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.18 $25.18

$20.82 $20.82

20.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 $10.86

$11.97 $11.97

-9.27%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.56 $5.56

-12.23%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$3.11 $3.11

-20.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.42 $2.42

-11.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.86 $6.86

14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$8.45 $8.45

-17.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.04 $1.04

17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.15 $4.15

8.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$5.52 $5.52

60.69%

Eggs

$4.41 $4.41

$4.65 $4.65

-5.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.33 $14.33

0.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$14.88 $14.88

-5.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$19.34 $19.34

-54.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$5.17 $5.17

-11.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.71 $1.71

-24.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.4 $3.4

$4.41 $4.41

-22.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$4.51 $4.51

94.24%

Potato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.53 $2.53

75.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.74 $2.74

-13.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.43 $2.43

3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.7 $2.7

32.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.43 $9.43

$15.19 $15.19

-37.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.94 $12.94

$16.42 $16.42

-21.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.9 $6.9

$3.7 $3.7

86.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.53 $2.53

-3.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.1 $55.1

$74.1 $74.1

-25.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.4 $3.4

$3.34 $3.34

1.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.42 $1.42

13.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$25.42 $25.42

15.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.85%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.56%

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

$170 $170

$188 $188

-9.62%

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

$90.1 $90.1

$63.7 $63.7

41.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.6 $82.6

$65.2 $65.2

26.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.91 $41.91

$76.7 $76.7

-45.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.59 $14.59

$14.93 $14.93

-2.28%

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

$1,322 $1,322

$2,063 $2,063

-35.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.6 $71.6

$64.3 $64.3

11.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 $57.7

$52.4 $52.4

10.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 $98.6

$95.2 $95.2

3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.7 $99.7

$145 $145

-31.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$2,378 $2,378

-0.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 $1,980

$1,584 $1,584

24.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,834 $3,834

$4,763 $4,763

-19.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 $2,792

$2,815 $2,815

-0.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,400 $5,400

$3,588 $3,588

50.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,891 $4,891

$2,490 $2,490

96.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,489 $9,489

$5,275 $5,275

79.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Salem, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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