City comparison
Boston vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and Chicago (113.6).
Boston Index
144.3
Chicago Index
113.6
Boston Rent
$3,775
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Boston Home price
$722,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$94,470
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 128 | -70.0 (-35.4%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 106 | -16.0 (-13.1%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 112 | -2.0 (-1.8%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 104 | -9.0 (-8.0%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | -5.0 (-4.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 105 | -16.0 (-13.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $5,130
Boston / Chicago
Couple
$11,270 / $8,520
Boston / Chicago
Family
$15,890 / $12,000
Boston / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.