Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, OH and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, OH and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,629 in Athens, OH versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,008 in Athens, OH versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,388 in Athens, OH versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Athens, OH costs roughly 47% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens, OH 22% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.88 $14.88

$20.17 $20.17

-26.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$99.5 $99.5

-40.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 $8.16

$12.23 $12.23

-33.28%

Cappuccino

$4.41 $4.41

$5.60 $5.60

-21.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.12 $3.12

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.43 $2.43

-41.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$6.93 $6.93

-26.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 $7.09

$8.20 $8.20

-13.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.08 $1.08

-32.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.97 $3.97

-48.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$5.58 $5.58

-46.06%

Eggs

$3.25 $3.25

$4.47 $4.47

-27.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.50 $14.50

-29.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$15.08 $15.08

-41.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.70 $15.70

$19.34 $19.34

-18.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$5.37 $5.37

-31.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.76 $1.76

-44.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$4.32 $4.32

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.41 $4.41

-32.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.54 $2.54

-35.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.70 $2.70

-21.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.49 $2.49

-31.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.60 $2.60

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.83 $8.83

$14.80 $14.80

-40.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$15.18 $15.18

-1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.47 $2.47

-19.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.60 $3.60

-49.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.54 $2.54

-61.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.30 $3.30

10.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.38 $1.38

-13.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$25.36 $25.36

-1.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.09 $1.09

-26.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.4K $34.4K

$31.6K $31.6K

8.56%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

-4.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 $122

$186 $186

-34.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.49 $29.49

$62.9 $62.9

-53.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.69 $47.69

$66.2 $66.2

-27.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.24 $43.24

$77.6 $77.6

-44.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$9.77 $9.77

$14.74 $14.74

-33.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,592 $1,592

$2,039 $2,039

-21.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K $17.6K

$39.9K $39.9K

-55.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.89 $41.89

$63.9 $63.9

-34.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.73 $40.73

$51.2 $51.2

-20.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 $65.3

$95.2 $95.2

-31.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$144 $144

-29.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 $1,726

$2,305 $2,305

-25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 $653

$1,575 $1,575

-58.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,624 $2,624

$4,688 $4,688

-44.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 $2,251

$2,737 $2,737

-17.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,678 $1,678

$4,063 $4,063

-58.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,657 $1,657

$2,696 $2,696

-38.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,384 $3,384

$5,019 $5,019

-32.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.6

-0.91%

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

Last update for Athens, OH: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,726 in Athens, OH and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 48% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Athens, OH vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $301 vs $448 per month, with Athens, OH cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Athens, OH vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,726 in Athens, OH versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,629 per month in Athens, OH versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL – a 88% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Athens, OH is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Athens, OH is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Athens, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.