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

😐 Solo nomad: Somerville, MA is 1.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Somerville, MA is 2.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$20.82 $20.82

19.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.4 $98.4

$100 $100

-1.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.73 $13.73

$11.97 $11.97

14.70%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$5.56 $5.56

-7.73%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.11 $3.11

-13.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.42 $2.42

-13.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.68 $7.68

$6.86 $6.86

11.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.76 $8.76

$8.45 $8.45

3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.04 $1.04

21.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$4.15 $4.15

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.1 $3.1

$5.52 $5.52

-43.84%

Eggs

$4.86 $4.86

$4.65 $4.65

4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 $17.09

$14.33 $14.33

19.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.4 $13.4

$14.88 $14.88

-9.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$19.34 $19.34

4.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$5.17 $5.17

9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.71 $1.71

29.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.41 $4.41

30.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$4.51 $4.51

43.68%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.53 $2.53

72.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.74 $2.74

-20.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.43 $2.43

11.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.7 $2.7

-18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.71 $13.71

$15.19 $15.19

-9.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.27 $13.27

$16.42 $16.42

-19.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.35 $2.35

-11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.7 $3.7

-46.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.53 $2.53

-6.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.8 $91.8

$74.1 $74.1

23.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.34 $3.34

-24.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.42 $1.42

24.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.51 $28.51

$25.42 $25.42

12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.08 $1.08

-12.04%

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

$30K $30K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.33%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.92%

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

$192 $192

$188 $188

2.15%

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

$74 $74

$63.7 $63.7

16.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$65.2 $65.2

18.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 $105

$76.7 $76.7

37.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.93 $14.93

2.14%

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

$1,668 $1,668

$2,063 $2,063

-19.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.3K $27.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-30.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 $58.6

$64.3 $64.3

-8.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.93 $39.93

$52.4 $52.4

-23.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

9.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$145 $145

3.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,837 $2,837

$2,378 $2,378

19.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 $2,626

$1,584 $1,584

65.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,474 $4,474

$4,763 $4,763

-6.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,454 $4,454

$2,815 $2,815

58.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,542 $7,542

$3,588 $3,588

110.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,561 $5,561

$2,490 $2,490

123.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,114 $6,114

$5,275 $5,275

15.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.6

-1.97%

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

Last update for Somerville, MA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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