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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,501 in Alliance, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,625 in Alliance, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,749 in Alliance, OH.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 24% more expensive than in Alliance, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Alliance, OH 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$17.79 $17.79

11.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$62.3 $62.3

41.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$13.11 $13.11

0.92%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.89 $4.89

19.84%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.92 $2.92

-10.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.54 $1.54

50.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$4.12 $4.12

70.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$6.13 $6.13

50.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.39 $3.39

23.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.33 $5.33

3.19%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$2.73 $2.73

72.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$13.33 $13.33

10.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$10.53 $10.53

37.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$16.54 $16.54

19.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.89 $4.89

15.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.02 $1.02

93.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.47 $4.47

-9.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.87 $4.87

4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.46 $2.46

19.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.13 $3.13

-6.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.32 $2.32

-1.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.39 $2.39

30.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$7.60 $7.60

113.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.81 $15.81

-4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.20 $3.20

-16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.16 $2.16

17.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.04 $3.04

3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.51 $1.51

-9.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$23.65 $23.65

-4.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

3.33%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.57%

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

$190 $190

$217 $217

-12.56%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$60.0 $60.0

14.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$69.1 $69.1

-11.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$42.40 $42.40

50.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$12.12 $12.12

50.83%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,343 $1,343

13.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$32.5K $32.5K

-1.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$45.34 $45.34

41.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$41.03 $41.03

32.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$89.0 $89.0

13.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$120 $120

28.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,612 $1,612

50.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,281 $1,281

31.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,310 $2,310

98.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,050 $2,050

35.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,570 $2,570

62.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,676 $2,676

2.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.94

7.41%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Alliance, OH: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,612 in Alliance, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $62.0 in Alliance, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $397 per month, with Alliance, 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 Alliance, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alliance, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,659 in Chicago, IL and $3,751 in Alliance, OH to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,612 in Alliance, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,343 in Alliance, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Alliance, OH – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Alliance, 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 Alliance, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.