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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30.1% more expensive than Akron, OH without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.6% more expensive than Akron, OH without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.04 $16.04
29.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$54.6 $54.6
83.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.15 $10.15
17.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.56 $3.56
56.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.42 $2.42
28.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.73 $1.73
39.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.12 $5.12
33.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.53 $5.53
52.80%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.1 $1.1
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.7 $2.7
53.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$7.08 $7.08
-22.03%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.54 $4.54
2.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.33 $15.33
-6.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.76 $11.76
26.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.45 $19.45
-0.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.72 $7.72
-33.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.54 $1.54
11.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$10.21 $10.21
-56.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.51 $6.51
-30.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.29 $3.29
-16.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.32 $2.32
4.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.83 $1.83
47.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.87 $8.87
71.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.71 $14.71
11.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.93 $3.93
-5.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.26 $1.26
100.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$50.2 $50.2
47.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.87 $4.87
-31.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.52 $1.52
-6.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.69 $29.69
-14.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.7K $24.7K
31.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28.7K $28.7K
-8.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$286 $286
-34.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$40.48 $40.48
57.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$80.5 $80.5
-19.00%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.71 $42.71
79.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$17.71 $17.71
-26.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.9 $11.9
25.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,348 $1,348
53.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$12.7K $12.7K
207.37%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$47.32 $47.32
35.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$63.4 $63.4
-17.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.5 $87.5
8.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$123 $123
17.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$999 $999
137.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$926 $926
71.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,307 $1,307
264.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,557 $1,557
80.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,522 $1,522
135.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,317 $1,317
89.11%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Akron, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,103 $3,103
69.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.38
3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Akron, OH: October 27, 2025

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