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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Southbridge, MA is 25.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Southbridge, MA is 11.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73 $19.73
$20.82 $20.82
-5.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 $64.5
$100 $100
-35.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 $11.29
$11.97 $11.97
-5.68%
Cappuccino
$4.14 $4.14
$5.56 $5.56
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.11 $3.11
-30.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.42 $2.42
-27.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$6.86 $6.86
-12.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$8.45 $8.45
-15.98%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.15 $4.15
-20.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$5.52 $5.52
2.90%
Eggs
$3.64 $3.64
$4.65 $4.65
-21.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.56 $16.56
$14.33 $14.33
15.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.67 $13.67
$14.88 $14.88
-8.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.67 $19.67
$19.34 $19.34
1.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$5.17 $5.17
-24.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$4.41 $4.41
-14.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$4.51 $4.51
-11.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 $3.12
$2.53 $2.53
23.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.74 $2.74
-6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.43 $2.43
-23.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.7 $2.7
-41.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.75 $12.75
$15.19 $15.19
-16.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.88 $11.88
$16.42 $16.42
-27.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 $3.2
$3.7 $3.7
-13.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.34 $3.34
-21.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.42 $1.42
56.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.05 $28.05
$25.42 $25.42
10.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$188 $188
3.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 $52.9
$63.7 $63.7
-16.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 $64.7
$65.2 $65.2
-0.78%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.3 $42.3
$76.7 $76.7
-44.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$14.93 $14.93
-1.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,719 $1,719
$2,063 $2,063
-16.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.9K $27.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-28.71%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.85 $46.85
$64.3 $64.3
-27.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.54 $33.54
$52.4 $52.4
-35.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 $84.9
$95.2 $95.2
-10.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$145 $145
0.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$2,378 $2,378
-33.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$1,584 $1,584
-14.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$4,763 $4,763
-44.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$2,815 $2,815
-22.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,765 $2,765
$3,588 $3,588
-22.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,542 $2,542
$2,490 $2,490
2.09%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Southbridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.6
-2.58%

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

Last update for Southbridge, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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