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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,265 in Akron, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,360 in Akron, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,456 in Akron, OH.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 38% more expensive than in Akron, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Akron, OH 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$17.01 $17.01

17.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$76.5 $76.5

15.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.05 $10.05

28.76%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.71 $3.71

49.33%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.14 $2.14

28.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.64 $1.64

43.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.87 $4.87

46.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$4.95 $4.95

76.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.90 $0.90

48.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.49 $2.49

67.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$7.05 $7.05

-18.72%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.82 $4.82

1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$15.57 $15.57

-5.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$11.91 $11.91

24.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$19.19 $19.19

2.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$7.14 $7.14

-21.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.55 $1.55

23.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$7.50 $7.50

-44.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.66 $6.66

-27.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.94 $3.94

-27.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.77 $3.77

-25.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.51 $2.51

-12.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.94 $1.94

57.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.31 $9.31

73.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$14.60 $14.60

1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.75 $1.75

44.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.16 $5.16

-35.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.26 $1.26

102.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$50.1 $50.1

50.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.97 $4.97

-33.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.79 $1.79

-24.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.02 $1.02

14.71%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.3K $36.3K

-0.89%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.13%

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

$191 $191

$240 $240

-20.22%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$41.62 $41.62

63.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$79.3 $79.3

-22.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$43.30 $43.30

46.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$17.25 $17.25

57.33%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.69 $12.69

42.00%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,325 $1,325

14.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$12.6K $12.6K

148.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$54.1 $54.1

17.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$63.7 $63.7

-13.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$105 $105

-4.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$124 $124

23.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$931 $931

158.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$863 $863

91.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,358 $1,358

236.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,433 $1,433

93.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$1,541 $1,541

161.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$1,521 $1,521

80.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,307 $3,307

45.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.05

5.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Akron, OH: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $931 in Akron, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 45% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Akron, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $455 per month, with Akron, 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

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

Chicago, IL and Akron, OH differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($3,117 vs $2,265 including rent). Akron, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 45% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $931 in Akron, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,265 in Akron, OH – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Akron, OH runs roughly 51% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,265 in Akron, OH versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Akron, OH but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Akron, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Akron, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.