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Cost of living · head to head

Boston, MA is approximately 5% pricier than Chicago, IL, using Chicago, IL as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Chicago, IL and Boston, MA metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Boston, MAoverall index
108.3
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Chicago, IL
A salary of $100,000 in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $104,537 in Boston, MA, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Boston, MA is more expensive than Chicago, IL, so you’d need about $104,537 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Chicago, IL — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$4,500 more to cover the higher cost of living, not a real raise.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Boston, MA run 32% higher than in Chicago, IL (148.4 vs 112.0), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryChicago, ILBoston, MADifference
Overall103.6108.3+5%
Goods107.399.7-7%
Housing rents112.0148.4+32%
Utilities83.6148.8+78%
Other services100.5103.6+3%

Boston, MA differs from Chicago, IL the most in utilities — about 78% higher in Boston, MA — while the closest is other services.

Estimated salary equivalent in Boston, MA

$50,000 in Chicago, IL$52,268
$75,000 in Chicago, IL$78,403
$100,000 in Chicago, IL$104,537
$150,000 in Chicago, IL$156,805
$200,000 in Chicago, IL$209,073

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Boston, MA, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Chicago, IL.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is Boston, MA cheaper than Chicago, IL?

No — Boston, MA has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.3 versus 103.6 for Chicago, IL, making it about 5% more expensive.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Chicago, IL if you moved to Boston, MA?

About $104,537, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $104,537 in Boston, MA. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Boston, MA than in Chicago, IL?

Housing rents in Boston, MA score 148.4 versus 112.0 in Chicago, IL — about 32% more expensive. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Chicago, IL and Boston, MA?

Overall, Boston, MA is about 5% pricier than Chicago, IL (index 108.3 vs 103.6), with housing 32% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.