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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,500 in Archbold, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,521 in Archbold, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,541 in Archbold, OH.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 23% more expensive than Archbold, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Archbold, OH 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$17.60 $17.60

18.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$29.89 $29.89

228.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.17 $10.17

16.62%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.80 $4.80

16.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.01 $2.01

52.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.85 $1.85

33.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.13 $6.13

16.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.02 $7.02

15.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.89 $0.89

17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.18 $3.18

29.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.63 $5.63

-0.36%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.40 $3.40

32.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.44 $12.44

14.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$5.15 $5.15

189.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$20.29 $20.29

-5.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.61 $4.61

11.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.85 $0.85

108.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.83 $2.83

55.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.90 $2.90

57.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.04 $2.04

24.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.54 $2.54

8.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.00 $2.00

21.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.02 $2.02

29.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.99 $9.99

49.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.81 $14.81

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.00 $2.00

23.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.48 $2.48

50.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.54 $2.54

25.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.38 $1.38

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$47.83 $47.83

-47.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.88 $0.88

20.45%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.5K $35.5K

-10.12%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.53%

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

$185 $185

$220 $220

-15.90%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$55.5 $55.5

11.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$52.3 $52.3

27.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.34 $42.34

77.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$7.71 $7.71

90.79%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,276 $1,276

58.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.9K $16.9K

133.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$39.98 $39.98

61.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$31.54 $31.54

66.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$96.2 $96.2

1.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$111 $111

33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,630 $1,630

41.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,371 $1,371

16.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,592 $2,592

77.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,214 $2,214

25.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,674 $2,674

46.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,378 $2,378

9.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Archbold, OH: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,630 in Archbold, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $30.00 in Archbold, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $343 per month, with Archbold, 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 Archbold, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Archbold, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Archbold, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $3,750 in Archbold, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,630 in Archbold, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,500 in Archbold, OH – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Archbold, OH is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Archbold, OH delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,500 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Archbold, OH hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Archbold, OH are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Archbold, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.