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: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,474 in Archbold, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,764 in Archbold, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $5,053 in Archbold, OH.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than in Archbold, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Archbold, OH 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$25.10 $25.10

-20.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$98.1 $98.1

-9.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$14.81 $14.81

-12.63%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.13 $5.13

7.99%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.47 $2.47

10.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.15 $2.15

9.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.95 $4.95

43.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$6.03 $6.03

44.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.79 $0.79

69.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.89 $2.89

44.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.08 $5.08

12.80%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$2.74 $2.74

78.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$9.27 $9.27

59.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.26 $12.26

21.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$13.40 $13.40

46.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.41 $5.41

2.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.28 $1.28

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.37 $4.37

-4.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.62 $4.62

5.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.95 $2.95

-3.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.34 $3.34

-16.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.89 $1.89

16.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.85 $2.85

7.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.89 $9.89

63.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.13 $15.13

-2.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.37 $3.37

-0.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.94 $1.94

31.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.93 $2.93

12.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.66 $1.66

-18.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$29.82 $29.82

-15.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.04 $1.04

12.50%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.5K $35.5K

1.36%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.82%

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

$191 $191

$117 $117

63.57%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$37.94 $37.94

79.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$93.8 $93.8

-34.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$41.48 $41.48

53.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$9.32 $9.32

93.35%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,628 $1,628

-6.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$11.3K $11.3K

176.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$58.2 $58.2

9.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$21.38 $21.38

158.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$124 $124

-18.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$152 $152

0.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,612 $1,612

49.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,275 $1,275

29.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,488 $2,488

83.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,162 $2,162

28.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,744 $2,744

46.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,343 $2,343

17.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.04

5.63%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Archbold, OH: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,612 in Archbold, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $98.0 in Archbold, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $464 vs $377, with Archbold, OH cheaper for home cooking.

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 26% 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 $4,676 in Chicago, IL and $3,711 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,612 in Archbold, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,474 in Archbold, OH – a 26% 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 $2,474 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 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.