Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ashland, OH: $2,365 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
114

Cost of Living Index in Ashland, OH
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Ashland, OH Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Ashland, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,365

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Ashland, OH

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Ashland, OH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL versus $2,365 in Ashland, OH.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Ashland, OH $2,365

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,627 in Chicago, IL versus $3,244 in Ashland, OH.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Ashland, OH $3,244

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,115 in Chicago, IL versus $4,124 in Ashland, OH.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Ashland, OH $4,124

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 33% more expensive than in Ashland, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 132% above, Ashland, OH 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$8.76 $8.76

135.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$35.20 $35.20

156.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$8.26 $8.26

56.66%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.45 $3.45

62.32%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.18 $2.18

21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.23 $1.23

84.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$2.74 $2.74

154.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$8.02 $8.02

10.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.83 $0.83

53.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.84 $1.84

106.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.56 $3.56

48.88%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.65 $3.65

30.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$9.93 $9.93

40.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.23 $9.23

58.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$14.49 $14.49

29.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.44 $3.44

50.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.18 $1.18

67.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.23 $3.23

21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.42 $4.42

12.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.99 $1.99

38.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.89 $2.89

-4.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.07 $2.07

7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.99 $1.99

49.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.33 $10.33

35.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$9.38 $9.38

62.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.14 $2.14

20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.59 $2.59

35.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.92 $4.92

-49.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$200 $200

-62.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.99 $2.99

11.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.93 $0.93

53.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$18.04 $18.04

34.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.04 $1.04

21.15%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

18.36%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.11%

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

$193 $193

$198 $198

-2.64%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$33.76 $33.76

102.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$58.7 $58.7

4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$45.79 $45.79

18.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$8.08 $8.08

119.55%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$890 $890

85.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$20.3K $20.3K

52.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$54.1 $54.1

22.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.89 $43.89

16.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$99.3 $99.3

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$105 $105

34.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$885 $885

176.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,157 $1,157

44.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,325 $1,325

256.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,659 $1,659

68.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$1,838 $1,838

123.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,968 $1,968

34.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,580 $3,580

35.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.6

3.18%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OH: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Ashland, OH

$1.2K 48.9% 31% $520

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Ashland, OH

$313 13.2% 30.4% $137

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Ashland, OH

$180 7.6% 47.7% $164

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Ashland, OH

$290 12.3% 9.9% $32

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Ashland, OH

$136 5.8% 15.7% $25

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Ashland, OH

$227 9.6% 139% $132

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Ashland, OH

$62 2.6% 30.8% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,446 in Chicago, IL and $885 in Ashland, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 36% 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: $90.0 in Chicago, IL vs $35.00 in Ashland, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $313 per month, with Ashland, OH cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Ashland, OH

🕒 Local time

08:17 8:17 AM

09:17 9:17 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

21,684

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Ashland, OH 460 km

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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 Ashland, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ashland, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 36% 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: $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $885 in Ashland, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OH – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,365 in Ashland, OH – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,365 in Ashland, OH versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ashland, OH but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ashland, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ashland, OH delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,365 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ashland, OH hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Ashland, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.