Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 1.7% cheaper than Boston.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.1% less in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 17.3% less in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 3.9% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 24.7% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 35.6% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.9% less in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 2.6% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Boston. Expenses including housing, groceries, transportation, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are lower in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Boston, you would:
pay 1.1% less for restaurants
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$22.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.55
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.14
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.56
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 17.3% less for groceries
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.39
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$9.48
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.97
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.43
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.22
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.50
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.02
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$3.23
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$3.19
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$2.08
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.72
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 3.9% less for transportation
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.64
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$90.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,000.00
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.62
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 24.7% less for housing
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$70.88
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$3,280.96
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,453.85
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.96
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 35.6% more for childcare
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,428.57
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,000.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 2.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.79
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$13.83
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$86.18
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$16.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 2.6% more for clothing
|
Boston
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.32
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.83
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$98.17
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$157.18
|
$146.00
|
|
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