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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $2,895 in Ashland, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $3,520 in Ashland, OH.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 34% more expensive than Ashland, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Ashland, OH 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$8.39 $8.39

146.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$38.42 $38.42

161.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.28 $8.28

43.24%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.63 $3.63

52.62%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.70 $1.70

80.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.27 $1.27

95.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.06 $5.06

36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$4.93 $4.93

64.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.81 $0.81

28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.23 $2.23

75.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.83 $2.83

91.52%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$2.61 $2.61

71.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.44 $11.44

26.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$8.59 $8.59

77.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$13.50 $13.50

42.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.63 $3.63

48.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.14 $1.14

48.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.28 $3.28

31.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.64 $3.64

23.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.67 $1.67

53.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.03 $2.03

33.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.13 $2.13

13.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.48 $1.48

77.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.89 $9.89

51.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$7.79 $7.79

88.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.98 $1.98

25.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.55 $2.55

44.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.94 $2.94

-13.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$197 $197

-61.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.47 $2.47

33.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.32 $1.32

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$18.21 $18.21

35.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$28.0K $28.0K

13.23%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.56%

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

$183 $183

$162 $162

13.07%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$33.17 $33.17

86.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$65.1 $65.1

-0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$33.59 $33.59

126.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$8.56 $8.56

72.31%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,480 $1,480

38.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$14.3K $14.3K

169.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$44.02 $44.02

45.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.75 $39.75

29.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$69.2 $69.2

40.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$67.3 $67.3

118.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$635 $635

270.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,134 $1,134

39.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$875 $875

438.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,243 $1,243

118.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$1,786 $1,786

122.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,908 $1,908

37.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,333 $3,333

41.71%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OH: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $635 in Ashland, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 42% 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: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $38 in Ashland, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $292 per month, with Ashland, 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 Ashland, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 34% 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.

Chicago, IL pays 42% more on average, 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $635 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 $38.00 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,270 in Ashland, OH versus $3,051 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 $2,270 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 34% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.