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

🙂 Solo nomad: Worcester, MA is 12.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Worcester, MA is 15.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 $16.86
$20.82 $20.82
-19.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 $65.8
$100 $100
-34.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.93 $11.93
$11.97 $11.97
-0.33%
Cappuccino
$4.07 $4.07
$5.56 $5.56
-26.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$3.11 $3.11
-31.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.42 $2.42
-28.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$6.86 $6.86
-14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$8.45 $8.45
-15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.04 $1.04
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.15 $4.15
-16.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.7 $5.7
$5.52 $5.52
3.26%
Eggs
$3.77 $3.77
$4.65 $4.65
-18.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.77 $18.77
$14.33 $14.33
30.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.6 $13.6
$14.88 $14.88
-8.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.52 $19.52
$19.34 $19.34
0.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$5.17 $5.17
-25.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.71 $1.71
-18.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.41 $4.41
-14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.1 $4.1
$4.51 $4.51
-9.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.53 $2.53
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.74 $2.74
-6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.43 $2.43
-19.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 $1.64
$2.7 $2.7
-39.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.12 $13.12
$15.19 $15.19
-13.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.79 $11.79
$16.42 $16.42
-28.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.7 $3.7
-9.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.34 $3.34
-11.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.42 $1.42
41.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.8 $28.8
$25.42 $25.42
13.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$188 $188
3.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$63.7 $63.7
-17.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55 $55
$65.2 $65.2
-15.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.87 $29.87
$76.7 $76.7
-61.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.58 $12.58
$14.93 $14.93
-15.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,749 $1,749
$2,063 $2,063
-15.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K $30.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.81 $36.81
$64.3 $64.3
-42.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.67 $33.67
$52.4 $52.4
-35.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.5 $87.5
$95.2 $95.2
-8.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 $159
$145 $145
10.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,832 $1,832
$2,378 $2,378
-22.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,768 $1,768
$1,584 $1,584
11.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,817 $2,817
$4,763 $4,763
-40.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,285 $2,285
$2,815 $2,815
-18.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,970 $2,970
$3,588 $3,588
-17.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,949 $2,949
$2,490 $2,490
18.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Worcester, MA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,047 $4,047
$5,275 $5,275
-23.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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

Last update for Worcester, MA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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