City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Chicago | Methuen Town | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,314/mo | $1,514/mo | 13.2% lower in A |
| Median home value | $304,500 | $439,500 | 30.7% lower in A |
| Median household income | $71,673 | $93,681 | 23.5% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 104.3 | 101.0 | 3.3% higher in A |
| Utilities index | 86.2 | 99.3 | 13.2% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 99.9 | 95.9 | 4.2% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 99.6 | 104.7 | 4.9% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Chicago, you'd need $115,440 in Methuen Town to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Chicago, IL is about 13.4% cheaper overall than Methuen Town, MA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 8% lower in Chicago than in Methuen Town. If you earn $80,000 in Chicago, you'd need about $92,352 in Methuen Town to keep the same standard of living.