Chicago, IL vs Boston, MA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Boston, MA is 4.5% more expensive than Chicago, IL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Chicago works out to about $78,400 in Boston, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 32.5% more in Boston. Goods are 7.1% lower and other services 3.1% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 78.0% higher in Boston.
- Typical asking rent is $2,987 a month in Boston and $2,163 in Chicago, $9,888 a year more in Boston (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $726,000 in Boston and $356,000 in Chicago.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Boston was 7.1% more expensive than Chicago.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 32.5% higher in Boston than in Chicago
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
All items Chicago, IL: 103.6 Boston, MA: 108.3
Goods Chicago, IL: 107.3 Boston, MA: 99.7
Housing (rents) Chicago, IL: 112.0 Boston, MA: 148.4
Utilities Chicago, IL: 83.6 Boston, MA: 148.8
Other services Chicago, IL: 100.5 Boston, MA: 103.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 108.3 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 148.4 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 103.6 |
| Category | Chicago | Boston | Boston vs Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 108.3 | +4.5% |
| Goods | 107.3 | 99.7 | −7.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 148.4 | +32.5% |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 148.8 | +78.0% |
| Other services | 100.5 | 103.6 | +3.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,163 | $2,987 | +38.1% |
| Typical home value | $356,000 | $726,000 | +104.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Chicago | $75,000 | $78,400 | +4.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Chicago and Boston has widened since 2008: 2.3 points then, 4.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.4 | 107.7 |
| 2009 | 106.5 | 106.6 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 106.3 |
| 2011 | 106.9 | 106.6 |
| 2012 | 105.1 | 106.0 |
| 2013 | 104.2 | 104.3 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 105.8 |
| 2015 | 102.6 | 106.3 |
| 2016 | 103.8 | 110.1 |
| 2017 | 105.2 | 109.1 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 110.3 |
| 2019 | 102.6 | 109.9 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 112.5 |
| 2021 | 105.5 | 109.8 |
| 2022 | 105.7 | 112.2 |
| 2023 | 102.5 | 110.4 |
| 2024 | 103.6 | 108.3 |
Goods
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.5 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 106.2 | 96.9 |
| 2010 | 104.8 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 105.8 | 101.9 |
| 2012 | 103.2 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 101.3 |
| 2014 | 101.7 | 105.0 |
| 2015 | 99.2 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 104.6 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 104.4 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 102.8 |
| 2019 | 105.2 | 106.1 |
| 2020 | 103.4 | 108.3 |
| 2021 | 106.3 | 109.9 |
| 2022 | 106.6 | 110.0 |
| 2023 | 104.3 | 100.8 |
| 2024 | 107.3 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 124.0 | 142.7 |
| 2009 | 122.9 | 146.2 |
| 2010 | 124.5 | 144.2 |
| 2011 | 122.6 | 147.3 |
| 2012 | 119.8 | 144.9 |
| 2013 | 122.7 | 145.7 |
| 2014 | 122.6 | 142.7 |
| 2015 | 122.4 | 144.7 |
| 2016 | 121.4 | 146.6 |
| 2017 | 119.7 | 148.4 |
| 2018 | 117.8 | 146.1 |
| 2019 | 116.3 | 146.4 |
| 2020 | 117.3 | 156.7 |
| 2021 | 114.0 | 147.0 |
| 2022 | 111.2 | 150.2 |
| 2023 | 111.0 | 148.2 |
| 2024 | 112.0 | 148.4 |
Utilities
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.5 | 151.4 |
| 2009 | 90.8 | 143.5 |
| 2010 | 88.6 | 113.2 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 120.8 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 130.3 |
| 2013 | 80.3 | 114.4 |
| 2014 | 89.7 | 107.3 |
| 2015 | 91.9 | 114.9 |
| 2016 | 92.5 | 133.8 |
| 2017 | 92.7 | 151.4 |
| 2018 | 91.1 | 155.7 |
| 2019 | 80.5 | 155.1 |
| 2020 | 81.6 | 164.3 |
| 2021 | 82.7 | 158.9 |
| 2022 | 85.5 | 154.5 |
| 2023 | 77.0 | 172.2 |
| 2024 | 83.6 | 148.8 |
Other services
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.0 | 105.7 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 103.0 | 102.4 |
| 2011 | 104.3 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 103.4 | 100.2 |
| 2013 | 102.6 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 100.1 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 100.3 | 100.8 |
| 2016 | 102.8 | 105.5 |
| 2017 | 103.9 | 103.2 |
| 2018 | 102.1 | 106.3 |
| 2019 | 99.2 | 103.8 |
| 2020 | 103.0 | 104.2 |
| 2021 | 103.9 | 101.1 |
| 2022 | 104.8 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 100.6 | 106.3 |
| 2024 | 100.5 | 103.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,987 in Boston vs $2,163 in Chicago
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,347 | $1,956 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,375 | $2,003 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,376 | $1,986 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,363 | $1,976 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,392 | $2,037 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,414 | $2,077 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,417 | $2,070 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,391 | $2,040 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,428 | $2,126 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,458 | $2,155 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,450 | $2,131 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,430 | $2,121 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,463 | $2,192 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,492 | $2,228 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,483 | $2,204 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,467 | $2,194 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,501 | $2,260 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,532 | $2,300 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,528 | $2,288 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,511 | $2,269 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,546 | $2,341 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,545 | $2,318 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,525 | $2,204 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,484 | $2,133 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,515 | $2,217 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,587 | $2,319 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,624 | $2,388 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,630 | $2,422 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,677 | $2,468 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,743 | $2,579 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,766 | $2,636 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,758 | $2,622 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,798 | $2,675 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,851 | $2,759 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,865 | $2,769 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,856 | $2,764 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,893 | $2,821 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,943 | $2,877 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,953 | $2,852 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,954 | $2,853 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,999 | $2,921 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,055 | $2,955 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,066 | $2,921 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,059 | $2,915 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,109 | $2,978 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,163 | $3,030 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,163 | $2,987 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $726,000 in Boston vs $356,000 in Chicago
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $199K | $383K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $201K | $387K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $203K | $394K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $207K | $402K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $210K | $410K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $212K | $416K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $213K | $420K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $216K | $428K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $221K | $436K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $223K | $445K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $225K | $452K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $228K | $458K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $232K | $466K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $235K | $475K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $235K | $481K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $236K | $482K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $239K | $483K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $241K | $487K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $240K | $488K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $240K | $492K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $244K | $500K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $245K | $506K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $246K | $515K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $255K | $537K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $265K | $558K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $274K | $581K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $278K | $586K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $280K | $589K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $292K | $615K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $302K | $643K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $300K | $638K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $298K | $630K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $297K | $628K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $304K | $644K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $311K | $663K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $314K | $674K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $318K | $683K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $325K | $697K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $327K | $703K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $331K | $708K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $334K | $711K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $335K | $710K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $711K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $343K | $719K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $348K | $723K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $351K | $722K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $356K | $726K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.