Cost of Living Comparison Between Bowling Green, OH and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bowling Green, OH and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Bowling Green, OH is 35.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bowling Green, OH is 36.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.93 $11.93
$20.82 $20.82
-42.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.93 $44.93
$100 $100
-55.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.97 $11.97
-15.04%
Cappuccino
$4.27 $4.27
$5.56 $5.56
-23.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.11 $3.11
-24.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.42 $2.42
-7.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 $3.99
$6.86 $6.86
-41.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 $4.07
$8.45 $8.45
-51.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.04 $1.04
-50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 $2.19
$4.15 $4.15
-47.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2 $2
$5.52 $5.52
-63.77%
Eggs
$4.05 $4.05
$4.65 $4.65
-12.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 $9.08
$14.33 $14.33
-36.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.86 $5.86
$14.88 $14.88
-60.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.8 $19.8
$19.34 $19.34
2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$5.17 $5.17
-13.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.71 $1.71
-36.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$4.41 $4.41
-3.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.51 $4.51
22.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.53 $2.53
45.85%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.74 $2.74
58.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.43 $2.43
-19.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.7 $2.7
-42.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.19 $8.19
$15.19 $15.19
-46.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.85 $11.85
$16.42 $16.42
-27.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.7 $3.7
-1.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.34 $3.34
45.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.42 $1.42
12.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.4 $50.4
$25.42 $25.42
98.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K $30.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
17.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 $132
$188 $188
-30.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56 $56
$63.7 $63.7
-12.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.43 $41.43
$65.2 $65.2
-36.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.17 $43.17
$76.7 $76.7
-43.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.04 $10.04
$14.93 $14.93
-32.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$973 $973
$2,063 $2,063
-52.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 $50.9
$64.3 $64.3
-20.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.83 $47.83
$52.4 $52.4
-8.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 $93.5
$95.2 $95.2
-1.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2 $99.2
$145 $145
-31.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,573 $1,573
$2,378 $2,378
-33.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,329 $1,329
$1,584 $1,584
-16.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,579 $2,579
$4,763 $4,763
-45.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,203 $2,203
$2,815 $2,815
-21.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,802 $2,802
$3,588 $3,588
-21.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,516 $2,516
$2,490 $2,490
1.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bowling Green, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,911 $4,911
$5,275 $5,275
-6.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

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

Last update for Bowling Green, OH: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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