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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,464 in Ashland, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,604 in Ashland, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,743 in Ashland, OR.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than Ashland, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Ashland, OR 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$14.77 $14.77

41.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$68.6 $68.6

43.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.81 $9.81

20.90%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.08 $5.08

10.24%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.05 $2.05

49.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.11 $2.11

17.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.07 $6.07

17.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.20 $8.20

-1.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.83 $0.83

26.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.81 $3.81

7.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.76 $3.76

49.20%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$1.74 $1.74

159.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$11.92 $11.92

19.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$14.22 $14.22

4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.28 $14.28

34.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.38 $4.38

17.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.49 $1.49

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.35 $3.35

31.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.51 $3.51

29.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.08 $2.08

22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.70 $1.70

61.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.99 $1.99

21.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.65 $1.65

58.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.09 $10.09

47.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.83 $8.83

67.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.70 $1.70

44.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.45 $2.45

52.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.05 $2.05

20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.08 $4.08

-22.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.25 $1.25

13.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$30.16 $30.16

-17.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.01 $1.01

4.95%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$33.3K $33.3K

-4.03%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.27%

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

$185 $185

$127 $127

45.91%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$52.2 $52.2

18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$59.3 $59.3

12.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.32 $42.32

77.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.98 $13.98

5.22%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,494 $1,494

35.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$12.3K $12.3K

220.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$56.4 $56.4

14.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.65 $40.65

29.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$107 $107

-8.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$107 $107

37.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,613 $1,613

43.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,347 $1,347

18.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,636 $2,636

74.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,201 $2,201

26.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,677 $2,677

46.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,336 $2,336

11.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OR: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,613 in Ashland, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $69.0 in Ashland, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $348 per month, with Ashland, OR 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, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, OR is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $3,696 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,613 in Ashland, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,494 in Ashland, OR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OR – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,464 in Ashland, OR versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ashland, OR but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ashland, OR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ashland, OR is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Ashland, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.