Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashland, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashland, WI and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Ashland, WI is 14.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Ashland, WI is 16.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.14 $18.14
$20.82 $20.82
-12.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.5 $66.5
$100 $100
-33.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 $10.02
$11.97 $11.97
-16.29%
Cappuccino
$5 $5
$5.56 $5.56
-10.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.11 $3.11
-13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.42 $2.42
0.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.86 $6.86
-10.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 $7.07
$8.45 $8.45
-16.33%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.15 $4.15
3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$5.52 $5.52
-27.72%
Eggs
$3.2 $3.2
$4.65 $4.65
-31.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.56 $9.56
$14.33 $14.33
-33.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.64 $11.64
$14.88 $14.88
-21.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.2 $14.2
$19.34 $19.34
-26.58%
Apples (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$5.17 $5.17
-0.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.71 $1.71
-32.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$4.41 $4.41
29.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$4.51 $4.51
16.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.53 $2.53
54.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.74 $2.74
33.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.43 $2.43
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.7 $2.7
-30.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.51 $10.51
$15.19 $15.19
-30.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 $14.04
$16.42 $16.42
-14.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.7 $3.7
21.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.34 $3.34
53.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.92 $28.92
$25.42 $25.42
13.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
10.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$226 $226
$188 $188
19.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.77 $47.77
$63.7 $63.7
-25.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$65.2 $65.2
10.60%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.07 $43.07
$76.7 $76.7
-43.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.17 $14.17
$14.93 $14.93
-5.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,447 $1,447
$2,063 $2,063
-29.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.8K $29.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.96%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.76 $39.76
$64.3 $64.3
-38.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.33 $42.33
$52.4 $52.4
-19.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 $85.3
$95.2 $95.2
-10.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$145 $145
-12.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 $1,629
$2,378 $2,378
-31.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 $1,370
$1,584 $1,584
-13.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,668 $2,668
$4,763 $4,763
-43.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,192 $2,192
$2,815 $2,815
-22.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,625 $2,625
$3,588 $3,588
-26.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,609 $2,609
$2,490 $2,490
4.76%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Ashland, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.6
-2.58%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ashland, WI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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