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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 48.2% more expensive than Ashland, OH without rent, and 34.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 71.1% more expensive than Ashland, OH without rent, and 75% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$8.16 $8.16
155.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$38.61 $38.61
159.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.3 $8.3
44.22%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.82 $3.82
45.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.62 $1.62
91.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.35 $1.35
79.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.11 $5.11
34.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.95 $4.95
70.71%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.74 $0.74
40.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.14 $2.14
93.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.85 $2.85
93.68%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.57 $2.57
80.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.51 $11.51
24.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.93 $8.93
66.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.51 $13.51
43.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.57 $3.57
44.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.1 $1.1
55.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.39 $3.39
30.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.7 $3.7
21.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.65 $1.65
53.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.02 $2.02
35.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.24 $2.24
8.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.43 $1.43
88.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.13 $10.13
49.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$8.1 $8.1
102.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.91 $1.91
23.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.57 $2.57
43.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.96 $2.96
-14.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$202 $202
-63.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.51 $2.51
33.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.26 $1.26
12.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$18.25 $18.25
39.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.2K $27.2K
19.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$166 $166
13.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$33.5 $33.5
90.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64.6 $64.6
1.01%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$33.38 $33.38
129.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$8.41 $8.41
77.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,437 $1,437
43.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$14.4K $14.4K
172.36%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$43.07 $43.07
49.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.42 $40.42
29.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$69.3 $69.3
37.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$66.2 $66.2
118.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$625 $625
280.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,135 $1,135
39.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$873 $873
445.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,262 $1,262
123.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,715 $1,715
109.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,864 $1,864
33.63%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Ashland, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,371 $3,371
56.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ashland, OH: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.