Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Batavia, OH: $2,675 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Batavia, OH, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Batavia, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,675
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Batavia, OH and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Batavia, OH and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,675 per month in Batavia, OH vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Batavia, OH $2,675
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,898 per month in Batavia, OH vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Batavia, OH $3,898
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,120 per month in Batavia, OH vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Batavia, OH $5,120
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Batavia, OH is about 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Batavia, OH and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Batavia, OH by 97%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.95 $21.95
$20.71 $20.71
5.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.2 $78.2
$89.2 $89.2
-12.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.05 $12.05
$13.19 $13.19
-8.64%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$5.66 $5.66
-3.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.64 $2.64
-3.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$2.28 $2.28
-12.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$6.87 $6.87
-10.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$8.84 $8.84
-22.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.25 $1.25
-27.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.72 $3.72
-12.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$5.39 $5.39
-1.11%
Eggs
$3.80 $3.80
$4.74 $4.74
-19.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 $14.17
$13.84 $13.84
2.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.71 $14.71
$14.40 $14.40
2.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 $13.41
$18.38 $18.38
-27.04%
Apples (1kg)
$6.58 $6.58
$5.22 $5.22
26.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.98 $1.98
-32.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.15 $6.15
$4.06 $4.06
51.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$4.97 $4.97
-10.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.67 $2.67
7.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.66 $2.66
29.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.24 $2.24
0.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$3.13 $3.13
-27.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.03 $10.03
$13.82 $13.82
-27.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.31 $16.31
$14.88 $14.88
9.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.54 $2.54
-14.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.51 $3.51
-11.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.43 $2.43
-11.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.7 $52.7
$73.5 $73.5
-28.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.18 $3.18
-3.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.39 $1.39
-6.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.97 $26.97
$25.03 $25.03
7.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.20 $1.20
-14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K $31.1K
$35.0K $35.0K
-11.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.7K $26.7K
-4.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$194 $194
14.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.0 $67.0
$69.5 $69.5
-3.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2 $68.2
$61.6 $61.6
10.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.54 $39.54
$47.90 $47.90
-17.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.03 $13.03
$17.81 $17.81
-26.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,531 $1,531
$1,794 $1,794
-14.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.4K $34.4K
$31.9K $31.9K
7.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 $50.1
$67.0 $67.0
-25.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.87 $41.87
$52.1 $52.1
-19.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 $80.4
$102 $102
-20.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$144 $144
-23.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,557 $1,557
$2,526 $2,526
-38.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$1,578 $1,578
-18.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,516 $2,516
$4,738 $4,738
-46.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,088 $2,088
$2,693 $2,693
-22.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$4,190 $4,190
-31.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,353 $2,353
$2,768 $2,768
-14.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batavia, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,931 $4,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
6.81
-2.50%

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

Last update for Batavia, OH: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Batavia, OH
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 22.4% $289
Groceries & Markets
Batavia, OH
$424
Chicago, IL
$447 5.6% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batavia, OH
$359
Chicago, IL
$326 9.2% $33
Eating Out
Batavia, OH
$340
Chicago, IL
$345 1.5% $5.1
Clothing & Footwear
Batavia, OH
$127
Chicago, IL
$164 29.1% $37
Getting Around
Batavia, OH
$71
Chicago, IL
$93 31.7% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Batavia, OH
$66
Chicago, IL
$84 27.3% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,557 in Batavia, OH versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Batavia, OH versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $447 – making Batavia, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Batavia, OH
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
14:49 2:49 PM
13:49 1:49 PM
1 h behind Batavia, OH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,600
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Batavia, OH Chicago, IL 430 km
From you
  • Batavia, OH
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Batavia, OH vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Batavia, OH and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,675 in Batavia, OH, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 14% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Batavia, OH compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,012 per month in Batavia, OH and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Batavia, OH and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Batavia, OH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,557 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
How do commuting costs compare in Batavia, OH and in Chicago, IL?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Batavia, OH. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Batavia, OH and Chicago, IL?
Kindergarten costs $1,531 per month in Batavia, OH and $1,794 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Batavia, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,675, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Batavia, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Batavia, OH or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward Batavia, OH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Batavia, OH or Chicago, IL?
For expats, Batavia, OH is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 14% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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