Cost of living comparison
Massachusetts is 7.4% cheaper than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 12.8% less in Massachusetts
- Groceries
-
pay 4.4% more in Massachusetts
- Transportation
-
pay 1.6% more in Massachusetts
- Housing
-
pay 10.7% more in Massachusetts
- Childcare
-
pay 29.1% less in Massachusetts
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.6% less in Massachusetts
- Clothing
-
pay 19.2% less in Massachusetts
The cost of housing, groceries, and transportation in Massachusetts are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare, clothing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Massachusetts.
If you lived in Massachusetts instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 12.8% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$21.19
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$10.79
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.01
|
|
pay 4.4% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$3.71
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$7.31
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$4.52
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$4.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$4.98
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.77
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.15
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$1.71
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 1.6% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$3.51
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$71.71
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$33,785.54
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$17.40
|
|
pay 10.7% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$68.08
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$2,074.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$1,940.55
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$139.83
|
|
pay 29.1% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$1,960.62
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$26,428.57
|
|
pay 7.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$6.63
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$5.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$12.10
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$81.60
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$14.20
|
|
pay 19.2% less for clothing
|
Chicago
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$50.62
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$41.05
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$83.58
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$116.52
|
|
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