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

🙂 Solo nomad: Waltham, MA is 4.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Waltham, MA is 10.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.12 $19.12
$20.82 $20.82
-8.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 $11.21
$11.97 $11.97
-6.35%
Cappuccino
$4.41 $4.41
$5.56 $5.56
-20.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.11 $3.11
-14.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$6.86 $6.86
-12.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 $7.36
$8.45 $8.45
-12.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.04 $1.04
26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.15 $4.15
-19.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.04 $4.04
$5.52 $5.52
-26.81%
Eggs
$4.86 $4.86
$4.65 $4.65
4.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.41 $16.41
$14.33 $14.33
14.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 $10.45
$14.88 $14.88
-29.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.45 $20.45
$19.34 $19.34
5.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.66 $5.66
$5.17 $5.17
9.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.71 $1.71
28.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.74 $5.74
$4.41 $4.41
30.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.86 $7.86
$4.51 $4.51
74.28%
Potato (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$2.53 $2.53
79.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.74 $2.74
-10.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.43 $2.43
16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.7 $2.7
-45.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.13 $11.13
$15.19 $15.19
-26.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$16.42 $16.42
-9.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.35 $2.35
-12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.7 $3.7
-19.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.53 $2.53
-9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.4 $59.4
$74.1 $74.1
-19.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.34 $3.34
-23.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.42 $1.42
19.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.47 $27.47
$25.42 $25.42
8.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 $323
$188 $188
71.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$63.7 $63.7
-10.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.3 $79.3
$65.2 $65.2
21.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.64 $43.64
$76.7 $76.7
-43.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.1 $15.1
$14.93 $14.93
1.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,504 $1,504
$2,063 $2,063
-27.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.9K $27.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-28.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.1 $66.1
$64.3 $64.3
2.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.59 $32.59
$52.4 $52.4
-37.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 $65.9
$95.2 $95.2
-30.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.4 $84.4
$145 $145
-41.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,664 $2,664
$2,378 $2,378
12.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,532 $2,532
$1,584 $1,584
59.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,339 $4,339
$4,763 $4,763
-8.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,091 $5,091
$2,815 $2,815
80.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,634 $2,634
$3,588 $3,588
-26.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,530 $2,530
$2,490 $2,490
1.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waltham, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,663 $4,663
$5,275 $5,275
-11.59%
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 Waltham, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

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