Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ashland, OR: $2,602 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Ashland, OR
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Ashland, OR Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Ashland, OR

🇺🇸 United States

$2,602

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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, OR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL versus $2,602 in Ashland, OR.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Ashland, OR $2,602

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,518 in Chicago, IL versus $3,780 in Ashland, OR.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Ashland, OR $3,780

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,999 in Chicago, IL versus $4,958 in Ashland, OR.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Ashland, OR $4,958

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 17% more expensive than in Ashland, OR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 123% above, Ashland, OR 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$14.97 $14.97

38.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$69.3 $69.3

28.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.87 $9.87

33.64%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.11 $5.11

10.76%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.94 $1.94

36.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.83 $1.83

24.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.92 $5.92

16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.02 $8.02

10.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.91 $0.91

37.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.16 $3.16

17.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.81 $3.81

41.47%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$1.77 $1.77

167.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.90 $11.90

16.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.12 $11.12

29.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$14.19 $14.19

29.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.30 $6.30

-17.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.70 $1.70

16.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.36 $3.36

20.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.28 $5.28

-5.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.83 $1.83

45.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.69 $1.69

57.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.04 $2.04

9.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.33 $3.33

-6.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.88 $9.88

39.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.86 $8.86

67.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.70 $1.70

49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.41 $2.41

45.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$56.1 $56.1

31.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.11 $4.11

-22.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.55 $2.55

-45.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$44.56 $44.56

-43.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.30 $1.30

-7.69%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

23.80%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.0K $24.0K

11.22%

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

$194 $194

-0.02%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$77.0 $77.0

-9.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$86.1 $86.1

-28.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$41.79 $41.79

14.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.16 $14.16

25.78%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,134 $1,134

58.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$19.8K $19.8K

61.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$61.0 $61.0

9.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$71.4 $71.4

-27.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$89.5 $89.5

13.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$120 $120

19.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,578 $1,578

60.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,302 $1,302

21.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,470 $2,470

91.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,149 $2,149

25.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,688 $2,688

55.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,374 $2,374

16.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.78

0.44%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OR: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Ashland, OR

$1.3K 50% 17.5% $276

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Ashland, OR

$366 14.1% 18.1% $81

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Ashland, OR

$271 10.4% 21.3% $73

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Ashland, OR

$358 13.7% 9.8% $32

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Ashland, OR

$154 5.9% 6.1% $10

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Ashland, OR

$81 3.1% 13.2% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Ashland, OR

$70 2.7% 16.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $1,578 in Ashland, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $89 in Chicago, IL vs $69 in Ashland, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $366 per month, with Ashland, OR cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Ashland, OR

🕒 Local time

20:56 8:56 PM

18:56 6:56 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

21,684

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Ashland, OR 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Ashland, OR

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, OR is about 14% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $4,555 in Chicago, IL and $3,903 in Ashland, OR 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: $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,578 in Ashland, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OR – a meal for two runs $69 versus $89 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,602 in Ashland, OR – Ashland, OR is about 14% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ashland, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ashland, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.